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Thoughts  for  weary  hours 


THOUGHTS 


"WEARY   HOURS 


PROTESTANT  EPISCOPAL    SOCIETY    FOR    THE    PRO- 
MOTION  OF  EVANGELICAL   KNOWLEDGE, 
BIBLE    HOUSE. 


"To  all  those  who  in  this  transitory  life 
are  in  trouble,  sorrow,  need,  sickness,  or  any 
other  adversity,"  this  Volume  is  affectionately 
dedicated. 


PEE  FACE 


The  following  papers  have  appeared  in  the 
Parish  Visitor  during  the  last  few  years.  They 
have  been  received  with  much  favor,  and  their 
republication  in  book  form  has  been  frequently 
requested.  With  the  hope  that  they  may  ac- 
complish much  good,  they  are  issued  in  the 
present  shape. 


55hauflhts  far  ^Vaxx}  poiw, 


I. 

GOD'S      SCHOOL. 

SoijKow  is  (Jo<rs  scliool.  Even  God's 
own  Soil  was  not  made  perfect  without  it. 
Thouoli  a  Son,  yet  learned  Jle  oV)edienee 
l>y  tlie  tilings  lie  suffered.  Many  of  the 
hriglitest  virtues  are  like  stars  —  there 
nnist  l)e  nisjht,  or  they  can  not  shine. 
Without  suffering  thei'e  could  be  no  for- 
titude, no  patience,  no  compassion,  no 
sympathy.  Take  all  sorrow  out  of  life, 
and  you  take  away  all  richness  and 
depth  and  tenderness.  Ought  we  to 
pray  for  sorrow,  then  ?  T  do  not  say  so, 
yet  the  Master  says,  "  ]>U^ss('d  are  they 


f,         rn<n  (iiirs    lof;    wkaiiv    ihmi.'s. 

tliMt  iii<)in-ii  ; ''  not  1)1('ss(m1  arc  tlicy  tii:it 
prosper.  So  lieaveii  and  earth  (litter  in 
their  judgments.  With  every  cross 
some  perversity  or  sin  has  been  subdued, 
some  chain  unbound,  some  good  purpose 
perfected.  "No  trial  /'or  the  prei^e/ff 
seemeth  joyous,  but  afterward  it  yield- 
eth  peaceable  fruit."  Have  faith  in  this 
(ifferward.  The  Captain  of  our  salva- 
tion was  made  perfect  through  suffei-inii. 
Our  Father  is  the  God  of  nil  consohi- 
tlon.  Our  Teacher  is  named  the  "'Com- 
forter." 

IT. 

DISAPPOINTMENT. 

WiiKX  any  disappointment  lia-^  come 
upon  us,  and  the  cherished  desire  of  cnw 
hearts — upon  which  all  our  hopes,  ])lans, 
and  happy  anticipations  have  been  placed 
— has  been  suddenly  remove<l  out  of  our 
reach,  and  we  find  that  our  Pleaveidy 
Father  is  leading  us  away  Worn  the  \y,\\\\ 


THOUGHTS   FOR   WEARY    HOURS.         7 

of  our  own  choosing  into  another  which 
he  has  chosen  for  us,  oh !  how  we  mourn 
and  himent,  how  reluctantly  and  rebel- 
liously  we  turn  our  feet  toward  the 
Lord's  way.  It  is  perhaps  one  we 
shrink  back  from,  and  cry :  "  Not  this, 
not  this,  my  future  path,  O  Lord  !"  Ah ! 
how  hard  then  to  say :  *'  Thy  will,  not 
mine,  be  done."  We  feel  that  the  strug- 
gle is  too  difficult  for  us,  and  we  are  in- 
clined to  cast  ourselves  despairingly 
down  and  cry :  "  Who  is  sufficient  ?" 
But  then  comes  the  thought  —  no,  the 
blessed  certainty  —  we  are  children  of 
God;  and  what  then?  O  the  prom- 
ises! the  promises!  How  they  throng 
around  the  believer.  Hark !  they  whis- 
per to  us  :  "  Your  heavenly  Father  know- 
eth  your  needs — He  will  lead  you — He 
will  guide  you."  "  Mest  on  the  Lord." 
''Wait  for  Him."  "He  will  keep  thee 
in  perfect  peace."  "  Cast  your  care 
upon  Him."  "  Commit  your  way  unto 
Him  ;"  and  all  things  will  work  together 


8    THOUGHTS  FOR  WEARY  HOURS. 

for  your  good.      AYlioin  He  loveth^  He 
cliasteiietli. 

III. 

ENDURANCE. 

The  lesson  of  endurance — the  best  oi 
all  lessons.  But  how  is  this  lesson  learn- 
ed? Ah!  through  bitter  teacliing,  liard 
to  be  understood  and  obeyed,  till  the 
hand  of  the  great  Teacher  is  recognized 
clearly  through  it  all. 

IV. 

A   LIPE-SONG. 

As  God  leads  me  will  I  go, 

Nor  choose  my  way  ; 
Let  Him  choose  the  joy  or  woe 

Of  every  day ; 
They  can  not  hurt  my  soul, 
Because  in  His  control ; 
I  leave  to  Him  the  whole— 

His  children  may. 

As  God  leads  me,  I  am  still 
Within  His  hand ; 


THOUGHTS   FOR   WEARY    HOURS. 

Though  His  purpose,  my  self-will 

Doth  oft  withstand. 
Yet  I  wish  that  none 
But  His  will  be  done, 
Till  the  end  be  won, 

That  He  hath  planned. 

As  God  leads  I  am  content ; 

He  will  take  care. 
All  things  by  His  will  are  sent 

That  I  must  bear. 
To  Him  I  take  my  fear, 
My  wishes  while  Tm  here  ; 
The  way  will  all  seem  clear 

When  I  am  there  ! 

As  God  leads  me,  it  is  mine 

To  follow  Him  ; 
Soon  all  shall  wonderfully  shine, 

Which  now  seems  dim. 
Fulfilled  be  His  decree  ! 
What  He  shall  choose  for  me, 
That  shall  my  portion  be, 

Up  to  the  brim  ! 

As  God  leads  me,  so  my  heart 

In  Faith  shall  rest ; 
No  grief  nor  fear  my  soul  shall  part 

From  Jesus'  breast. 


10        THOUGHTS   FOR   WEAKY    IIOUES. 

In  sweet  belief  I  know 
"What  way  my  life  doth  go — 
Since  God  permitteth  so — 
That  must  be  best. 


y. 

"MY   SOUL   IS   AMONG   LIONS." 

There  are  times  of  such  overwhelming 
grief,  that  the  soul  passing  through  tlieni 
would  answer  to  every  assurance  of  the 
possibility  of  peace  and  joy  in  religion  : 
"  I  can  not  feel  it.'*^  A  person  in  this 
state  becomes  aware  of  the  mystery  of 
grief,  and  would  look  at  the  most  power- 
ful arguments  of  comfort  as  only  so 
many  varied  proofs  of  her  peculiar 
wretchedness,  since  they  fail  to  comfort 
her  ;  she  would  cry  out  in  bitterness :  "  I 
believe  in  the  love  of  God.  It  is  as  much 
as  I  can  do  by  the  greatest  stretch  of 
faith ;  to  feel  it  is  not  in  my  power." 
Yet  even  then,  when  the  poor  soul  out 
of  the  depths  cries,  and  cries  aloud  as  if 


THOUGHTS   FOR    WEARY    HOURS.       11 

her  Father  were  out  of  hearing — when, 
by  the  inscrutable  purjDOse  of  the  Al- 
mighty, we  lie  prostrate  in  darkness, 
ready  for  the  enemy  to  insult  with  terri- 
ble suggestions  of  unbelief,  even  then  let 
us  take  the  word  which  God  has  given 
us,  and  plead  with  Him  still.  Though 
noways  uttered  except  by  sighs  and 
groans,  the  petition  of  the  feeblest  be- 
liever Avill  not  be  disregarded.  He  clear- 
ly discerns  all  our  affliction  and  all  our 
dismay,  and  is  as  near  and  mighty  to 
save,  when  the  due  time  of  trouble  is 
ended,  as  He  seems  to  be  in  those  calm 
hours  of  prayer,  when  before  we  have 
done  speaking  lie  answers,  and  infuses 
comforts  more  than  equal  to  the  sorrow 
which  has  but  wetted  the  cheek  and  in- 
tensified the  ardor  of  supplication. 


12         THOUGHTS   FOR    WEARY    HOURS. 


YI. 

"EVERLASTING   JOY    SHALL   BE 
UPON    THEIR  HEADS." 

Ah!  whatever  our  secret  trouble, 
whatever  our  cross,  even  if  we  anticipate 
it  a  life-long  trial,  still  there  comes  this 
conforting  thought,  it  is  but  for  this 
life  ;  with  respect  to  our  whole  existence, 
when  once  we  are  proved  to  be  faithful 
servants  of  God,  how  inexj^ressibly  un- 
important may  be  the  happiness  or  un- 
happiness  of  our  stay  on  earth.  If  we 
now  regret  that  on  our  fifth  or  sixth 
birthday,  a  rainy  day  made  it  impossible 
to  enjoy  the  out  of  doors  part  of  our 
birthday  amusements,  Ave  may  hereafter 
remember  with  a  sigh  the  disappoint- 
ments and  sorrows  of  this  world.  "  O 
eternity  !  thou  art  very  long.  What  is 
it,  that  a  soul  must  a  little  while  be 
sorrowful,  and  afterward  have  eternal 
joy?" 


THOUGHTS   FOR   ^VEARY   IIOLKS.       13 

VII. 

"TKUST   IN"   THE   LORD." 

Shall  I  not  trust  my  God, 
"Who  doth  so  well  love  me  ? 
Who  as  a  Father  cares  so  tenderly  ? 

Shall  I  not  lay  the  load 
"Which  would  my  weakness  break 
On  His  strong  hand,  who  never  doth  forsake  ? 

He  doth  know  all  my  grief 
And  all  my  heart's  desire, 
He'll  stand  by  me  till  death,  through  flood  and  fire. 

And  he  can  send  relief; 
My  Father's  love  so  free. 
Till  the  new  mornmg  shall  remain  to  me. 

"Who  doth  tlie  birds  supply, 
"Who  grass,  and  trees,  and  flowers, 
Doth  beautifully  clothe,  through  ceaseless  hours  ? 

Who  hears  us  ere  we  cry  ? 
Can  He  my  need  forget  ? 
Nay,  though  He  slay  me,  I  will  trust  Him  yet. 

"When  I  His  yoke  do  bear, 
And  seek  my  chiefest  joy 
But  in  His  righteousness  and  sweet  employ, 

He  makes  my  soul  His  care ; 
Early  and  late  doth  bless. 
And  crowueth  work  and  purpose  with  success. 


14        TUUUGHTS    FUli    WEAKY    IIUUKS. 

VIII. 

THE   CROOK   IN   THE   LOT. 

All  have  a  crook  in  the  lot,  a  skeleton 
at  the  feast ;  all  have  a  conflict  to  main- 
tain with  contending  duties,  and  per- 
plexing difficulties,  and  intricate  posi- 
tions— with  cares,  strifes,  and  sorrows. 
It  is  the  Christian  only,  who  going  forth 
at  his  own  charges,  can  engage  in  the 
life-battle  successfully.  He  struggles 
against  despondency.  He  conquers  dif- 
ficulties, he  rises  above  sorrows  and  dis- 
appointments, that  his  Father  may  be 
glorified  in  him  to  the  utmost,  and  that 
by  so  doing  he  work  a  work  of  faith  and 
patience. 

IX. 

"GO  ^work:  to-day." 

Realize  what  God  has  given  you  to 
do  to-day^  and  do  not  look  beyond  it. 
Strength  is  promised  according  to  your 


THOUGHTS    FOK    WEARY    llOUKS.       15 

day^  but  not  according  to  your  mor- 
row. Every-day  work  requires  evcry-day 
grace,  and  every-day  grace  requires  ev- 
ery-day asking.  Whatever  your  work 
is,  take  it  first  to  God.  Before  you 
begin,  kneel  and  implore  His  blessing. 
Ask  Him  for  a  fresh  diligent  spirit.  Ask 
Him  for  a  spirit  of  patience  and  meek- 
ness in  contending  with  all  the  little 
wearisome  difficulties  and  annoyances 
connected  with  it.  Ask  Him  to  enable 
you  not  only  to  hear  the  daily  cross,  but 
to  "take  it  up,"  denying  yourself  and 
following  the  footsteps  of  the  Lord  Je- 
sus. Then  put  your  whole  might  to  it — 
the  might  that  you  have  borrowed  from 
a  mightier  than  yourself — for  that  is  the 
secret  of  real  work.  Do  it  as  if  your 
Master  were  standing  before  you.  Do 
not  ofler  to  God  a  spirit  dreaming  of 
the  great  things  you  could  do,  or  may 
do  at  some  other  time,  but  ofler  to 
Him  your  wakeful,  rejoicing  present  en- 
ergies. 


16      THOUGHTS  fou  weaiiy  houks. 


X. 

Those  who  wish  to  bestow  the  years 
of  their  life  upon  God,  must  also  give 
Hhn  the  days,  the  hours,  and  the  mo- 
ments. Only  think  of  7>re5e;i^  duties, 
the  mome?ifs  worh.  Our  life  is  given 
to  us  in  moments^  and  we  shall  have  joys 
for  each. 

XI. 

W^ORK   FOR   GOD. 

Is  there  nothing,  however  small,  that 
you  can  do  with  your  pen  and  your 
knowledge  ?  Is  there  no  little  tract  to 
be  written ;  no  simple  volume  which 
might  reach  some  hearts,  and  find  en- 
trance into  some  homes  ?  Try  ;  see  for 
yourselves  what  you  can  do.  "  She  hath 
done  what  she  could,"  is  world-wide 
encouragement.  "Work  for  God,  and  not 
for  yourself.  Your  work  will  soon  iind 
its  place  in  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord. 


THOUGHTS  FOK  WEARY  HOURS.   17 


xn. 

God  never  put  one  man  or  one  wo- 
man into  the  world,  without  giving 
each  something  to  do  in  it,  or  for  it — 
some  visible,  tangible  work,  to  be  left 
behind  them  when  they  die. 

XIII. 

Labor  is  worshijD  ;  yea,  labor  for 
God   is  happiness. 

XIY. 

Let  not  one  of  your  talents  nist  for 
want  of  use.     If  you  have  hut  one^  do 
not  bury  it ;  let  it  be  said  of  you  :  "  She  > 
hath  done  lohat  she  could.'''* 

XV. 

THE   FIGHT   OF   FAITH. 

IToLTXESS,  the  result  of  faith,  does 
not  enter  the  heart  quietly  and  gently, 
tliough    it    brings   joy   and    peace ;    it 


18       THOUGHTS    FOR   WEARY    HOURS. 

causes  a  hard  struggle,  a  fierce  A^arfare 
with  the  old,  unholy  mhabitants  of  the 
heart.  We  may  fully  trust  in  an  earthly 
friend  or  father,  and  there  is  none  to 
hinder  us;  we  may  pour  devoted  love 
upon  beings  like  ourselves,  and  all  within 
the  heart  is  in  unison ;  but  we  can  not 
confide  in  Him  who  beseeches  our  confi- 
dence, without  contesting  every  inch  of 
ground  Avith  fierce  foes  from  within ; 
we  can  not  love  Him  who  is  the  Lover  of 
our  souls,  without  heart-rivals  starting 
up  to  dispute  the  supremacy.  Where 
is  the  human  heart  that  has  not  its  be- 
setting sin — its  chosen  idol  ?  The  idol- 
breaking  Avork  in  each  individual  is  as 
much  of  reality  as  the  iconoclastic  work 
of  bygone  centuries ;  the  idols  that  are 
unseen  are  as  real  as  the  Juggernauts 
of  India,  and  the  images  of  Rome. 
Every  time,  however,  that  the  Holy 
Spirit  enables  us  to  dethrone  the  usurp- 
er, to  bear  the  suffering,  to  love  the  Lov- 
ing One,  to  trust  in  the  true  Friend,  we 


THOUGHTS   FOR   AVEAKY    HOURS.       19 

are  gaining  ground  in  holiness — the  chief 
end  of  the  new  creation — and  we  are 
working  the  work  of  God. 

XVI. 

CHRISTIAN   COURTESY. 

Cultivate  a  loving  manner.  How 
mucli  harm  is  done  by  a  disagreeable 
Christian.  Oh !  it  is  a  sad  thing  to  fold 
np  in  a  naj^kin  the  talent  of  manner,  to 
lose  the  key  of  the  casket,  to  forget  the 
sesame  to  the  hearts  of  men. 


XVII. 

HOME-LIGHT. 

The  sunbeam  is  composed  of  mil- 
lions of  minute  rays ;  so  home-light 
must  be  constituted  of  little  tender- 
nesses, kindly  looks,  sweet  laugliter, 
lovinir  words. 


20       THOUGHTS   FOIl   AVEARY    HOURS. 

XYIU. 

CHEERFULNESS. 

Remember  when  tlie  desolate,  aeli- 
ing  void  enters  your  heart,  and  casts  a 
gloom  over  your  face — rememher  that 
it  is  a  comfort  to  others  to  see  a  cheer- 
ful spirit,  a  sunshiny  face,  a  merry 
tongue,  an  even  temper.  Look  upon 
the  briMit  side  of  all  thincjs.  Believe 
that  the  best  oifering  you  can  make  to 
God  is  to  enjoy  to  the  full  what  He 
sends  of  good,  and  bear  Avhat  He  allows 
of  evil ;  like  a  child  who,  when  once 
it  thoroughly  believes  in  its  fiither, 
believes  in  all  his  dealings  with  it, 
whether  it  understands    them   or  not. 

XIX. 

"LORD,    INCREASE   OUR   FAITH." 
On  !  for  a  faith  that  will  not  shviuk, 
Thouf^h  prcssctl  by  niHiiy  a  foe  ; 
That  will  not  tremble  on  the  brink 
Of  any  earthly  woe ; 


THOUGHTS   FOR   T^TIAEY    HOUES.      21 

That  Avill  not  murmur  nor  complain, 

Beneath  the  chastening  rod, 
But,  in  the  hour  of  grief  or  pain, 

Will  lean  upon  its  God. 

A  faith  that  shines  more  bright  and  clear, 

"When  tempests  rage  without ; 
That,  when  in  danger,  knows  no  fear. 

In  darkness  feels  no  doubt. 

That  bears  unmoved,  the  woi'ld's  dread  frown, 

Xor  heeds  its  scornful  smile  ; 
That  seas  of  trouble  can  not  drown. 

Nor  Satan's  arts  beguile. 

A  faith  that  keeps  the  narrow  way 

Till  life's  last  hour  is  fled. 
And  with  a  pure  and  heavenly  ray 

Lights  up  the  dying-bed  ! 

Lord,  give  us  such  a  faith  as  this, 

And  then  whate'er  may  come. 
We'll  taste,  e'en  here,  the  hallowed  bliss 

Of  our  eternal  home. 


22        THOUGHTS   FOK  WEARY    HOUES. 

XX. 

.   "I  WILL  NOT  LEAVE  YOU  COM- 
FOKTLESS." 

"Life  is  full  of  Aveary  clnys;"  but 
these  need  not  be  comfortless,  even 
though  it  is  our  lot  to  walk  through  it 
alone.  Is  not  our  eternal  life  already 
begun?  Grief  and  inactivity  belong 
to  death.  We  can,  indeed,  suffer  our- 
selves to  be  buried  in  the  dying 
things  of  a  dying  world,  to  remain  for 
a  length  of  time  sleeping  for  sorrow  ; 
but  this  is  not  the  lot  appointed  to  us 
by  our  Father :  not  this  the  peace  to 
Avhich  we  were  called  by  Him  avIio  has 
overcome  the  world,  and  therefore 
bids  us  be  of  good  cheer.  Surely 
those  who  do  not  rejoice,  are  ill  able 
to  advance  Avitli  intrepidity  against 
those  enemies  of  his  and  ours  that  en- 
compass every  earthly  position ;  for 
how  can  we  show  forth  His  glory,  of 
testify  of  His  goodness,  unless  we  feel 


THOUGHTS   FOR   WEARY    HOURS.       23 

tliat  to  Its  He  has  been  very  gracious  ? 
and  liow  can  Ave  feel  this,  if  every 
day  is  a  burden  to  us,  to  be  borne 
Avearily  Avithout  use  or  joy? 

XXI. 

"SEEKEST    THOtr    GREAT   THINGS? 
SEEK    THEM    NOT.' 

We  need  not  go  througli  the  days 
of  our  life  seeking  for  our  Avork ;  God 
places  it  Avithin  our  hands.  Yet  hoAV 
often  do  A\"e  make  the  mistake  of  ask- 
ing for  a  life  AAdiich  shall  in  its  form 
and  outward  course  be  more  spiritual 
and  divine  than  that  w^hich  we  are 
obliged  to  live.  We  think  that  if  we 
could  devote  ourselves  entirely  to  Avhat 
are  called  labors  of  philanthropy,  to 
visiting  the  poor  and  sick,  that  Avould 
be  well  and  worthy — and  so  it  Avould 
be.  But  let  me  tell  you  that  the  mil- 
lion occasions  Avill  come,  ay,  and  in 
the    ordinary    paths    of  life  —  in    your 


24        THOUGHTS   FOR    AVEAIIY    HOURS. 

houses  and  by  your  firesides — wlierciu 
you  may  act  as  nobly  as  if  all  your 
life  long  you  visited  beds  of  sickness 
and  pain.  Yes,  I  say  the  rnillion  oc- 
casions will  come,  varying  every  hour, 
in  which  you  may  restrain  your  pas- 
sions, subdue  your  hearts  to  gentleness 
and  patience,  resign  your  own  interest 
for  another's  advantage,  speak  words 
of  kindness  and  wisdom,  raise  the 
fallen,  and  cheer  the  f anting  in  spirit, 
and  soften  and  assuage  the  bitterness 
and  weariness  of  the  mortal  lot.  These, 
indeed,  can  not  be  Avritten  on  your  tombs, 
but  in  them  you  may  discharge  offices 
not  less  glorious  for  yourselves  than  the 
self-denials  of  the  far-famed  Sisters  of 
Charity,  than  the  labors  of  Howard  and 
Oberlin,  or  than  the  suiferings  of  the 
martyred  host  of  God's  elect.  They 
shall  not  be  written  on  your  tombs,  but 
they  are  written  deep  in  the  hearts  of 
men  —  of  friends,  of  children,  of  kin- 
dred all  around  you  ;  they  are  written 


TnOUGHTS   FOK  WEAKY   IIOUKS.      25 

ill   tlie  Secret   Book  of  the  Great   Ac- 

OOllllt. 

"  "We  need  not  bid,  for  cloistered  cell, 
Our  neighbor  and  our  work  farewell, 
Nor  strive  to  wind  ourselves  too  high 
For  siufiil  man  beneath  the  sky. 
The  trivial  round,  the  common  task, 
Would  furnish  all  we  ought  to  ask — 
Room  to  deny  ourselves ;  a  road 
To  bring  us  daily  nearer  God," 

"  Daily  struggling,  though  inclosed  and  lonely, 
Every  day  a  rich  reward  will  give ; 
Thou  Avilt  find  by  hearty  striving  only. 
And  truly  loving,  thou  canst  truly  live." /> 

XXII. 

"  I   GIVE   UNTO    THEM  ETERNAL 
LIFE." 

Our  life  is  an  infancy  and  commence 
ment  of  eternal  life. 

Wlien  we  think  of  the  eternal  life 
which  through  Christ  we  inlierit,  we 
are  too  apt  to  regard  it  as  a  state  so 
entirely  future,  that  we  hinder  ourselves 


26        THOUGHTS   FOR   WEARY    HOURS. 

from  deriving  from  it  the  strength  and 
peace  which  it  could  afford  us  while 
surromided  by  the  pettinesses  of  daily 
life. 

XXIII. 

"'WAIT   ON"   THE   LORD." 

"  Wait  on  the  Lord."  Trust  in  Ilini. 
"  Commit  thy  way  unto  Him."  All  this 
requires  great  strength  of  grace  ;  but 
if  God  be  our  God,  that  love  which 
engaged  Him  to  bind  Himself  to  ns  in 
precious  promises,  will  furnish  us  like- 
wise with  grace  needful  for  this.  He 
will  give  us  the  grace  to  Avait  upon 
Him,  the  strength  to  trust  in  Him  and 
commit  our  way  to  Him.  And  oh  !  He 
will  give  us  that  rest^  that  unspeakable 
peace,  which  follows  this  perfect  faith 
and  trust.  Grace  and  23eace  go  together. 


THOUGHTS    FOR   WEARY    HOURS.      27 

XXIV. 

"HOPE   THOU   IN   GOD." 

"  Why  art  tliou  so  disquieted,  O  my 
soul!  and  why  art  thou  so  cast  down 
Avithin  me  ?     Hope  thou  in  God." 

Why  hope  in  God  ?  What  grounds 
liave  I  for  this  hope  and  trust  ?  Because 
God  is  your  God  in  covenant,  making 
Himself  so  to  you  in  His  choicest  favors, 
doing  that  for  you  which  none  else  can 
do,  and  which  He  doeth  to  none  else 
tliat  are  not  His. 

Why  must  I  wait  so  long  in  trust- 
ing? 

Light  is  sown  for  the  righteous;  it 
comes  not  upon  the  sudden.  We  must 
not  think  to  sow  and  reap  both  at  once. 
If  trouble  be  lengthened,  lengthen  thy 
patience. 

What  good  will  come  of  this  ? 

God  will  wait  to  do  you  that  good  for 
which  you  shall   praise  Him.     He  will 


28        THOUGHTS   FOR   WEARY    HOURS. 

deal  graciously  ■with  you ;  he  will  show 
you  His  salvation.  And  new  favors 
will  stir  you  up  to  sing  new  songs. 

But  in  the  mean  time,  my  heart  is  op- 
pressed and  cast  down ;  every  thing  is 
dark  to  me. 

God,  in  Ilis  own  time,  which  is  best 
for  you,  will  deliver  you.  He  will  com- 
pass you  about  witli  songs  of  deliver- 
ance, and  make  it  appear  at  last  that 
He  cares  for  you. 

But  why  does  it  seem  now  as  if  my 
prayer,  though  offered  up  in  earnestness 
and  sincerity,  was  not  heard  ? 

God  would  have  you  follow  after  Him 
^s'ith  stronger  faith  and  j^rayer  ;  He  with- 
draws Himself,  that  you  should  be  more 
earnest  in  seeking  Him.  God  speaks 
sweetest  comfort  to  the  heart  in  the 
wilderness.  Perliaps  you  are  not  yet 
humble  enougli,  or  your  submission  and 
faith  are  yet  too  weak.  Your  affections 
are  not  yet  firmly  enough  fixed  upon 
Him,  and  therefore  it  will  not  yet  ap- 


THOUGHTS   FOK   WEARY    HOUliS.      29 

pear  that  it  is  His  good  will  to  deliver 
tliee. 

AYere  you  a  fit  subject  for  mercy, 
God  would  bestow  it  ou  you.  Perse- 
A'ere,  therefore,  in  earnest,  believing 
l)rayer.  Seek  after  the  spirit  which 
ju-omi^ts  these  words :  "  Although  the 
fig-tree  shall  not  blossom,  neither  shall 
fruit  be  in  the  vines ;  the  labor  of  the 
olive  shall  fail,  and  the  fields  shall  yield 
no  meat ;  yet  I  will  rejoice  in  the  Lord, 
I  will  joy  in  the  God  of  my  salvation." 
"  My  strength  and  my  heart  faileth ; 
but  God  is  the  strength  of  my  heart, 
and  my  portion  forever." 

XXV. 

A   TKUST    SONG. 

What  within  mo  and  without 
Hourly  on  my  spirit  weighs, 

Burdening  heart  and  soul  with  doubt, 
Darkening  all  my  weary  daj's  ? 

In  it  I  behold  Thy  will, 

God,  who  givcth  rest  and  peace  ; 


30        THOUGHTS   FOR   WEARY    HOURS. 

And  my  heart  is  calm  and  still, 
Waiting  till  Thou  send  release. 

God,  Thou  art  my  rock  of  strength. 

And  my  home  is  in  Thine  arms  ; 
Thou  wilt  send  me  help  at  length, 

And  I  feel  no  wild  alarms. 
Sin  nor  death  can  pierce  the  shield 

Thy  defense  has  o'er  me  thrown  ; 
Up  to  Thee  myself  I  yield. 

And  my  sorrows  are  Thine  own. 

When  my  trials  tarry  long. 

Unto  Thee  I  look  and  wait, 
Knowing  none,  though  keen  and  strong, 

Can  my  trust  in  Thee  abate. 
And  this  faith  I  long  have  nursed. 

Comes  alone,  0  God  !  from  Thee  ; 
Thou  my  heart  didst  open  first. 

Thou  didst  set  this  hope  in  me. 

But  hast  thou  some  darling  plan 

Cleaving  to  the  things  of  earth  ? 
Leanest  thou  for  aid  on  man  ? 

Thou  wilt  find  him  nothing  worth. 
Rather  trust  the  One,  alone, 

Whose  is  endless  power  and  love. 
And  the  help  He  gives  His  own 

Thou  in  very  deed  shalt  prove. 


THOUGHTS    FOR   WEAKY    IIOUKS.       31 

On  Thee,  0  my  God  !  I  rest, 

Letting  life  float  calmly  on  ; 
For  I  know  the  last  is  best, 

When  the  crown  of  joy  is  won. 
In  Thy  might  all  things  I  bear, 

In  Thy  love  find  bitter  sweet ; 
And  with  all  my  grief  and  care, 

Sit  in  patience  at  thy  feet. 

0  my  soul !  why  art  thou  vexed  ? 

Let  things  go  e'en  as  they  will ; 
Though  to  thee  they  seem  perplexed, 

Yet  His  order  they  fulfill. 
Here  He  is  thy  strength  and  guard ; 

Power  to  harm  thee  here  has  none. 
Yonder  will  He  each  reward 

For  the  work  he  here  has  done. 

Let  Thy  mercy's  wings  be  spread 

O'er  me  ;  keep  me  close  to  Thee. 
In  the  peace  Thy  love  doth  shed, 

Let  me  dwell  eternally. 
Be  my  all  ;  in  all  I  do, 

Let  me  only  seek  Thy  will. 
Where  the  heart  to  Thee  is  true, 

All  is  peaceful,  calm,  and  still. 


32       THOUGHTS   FOR   WExVIlY   UOUES. 

XXVI. 

ATTBACTIONS    OF     THE     CROSS. 

To  Avliat  did  you  pledge  yourself, 
when  in  the  days  of  youth  you  Iieard 
the  voice  of  the  Saviour  calling  you,  and 
you  arose  and  followed  Him  ?  Day 
by  day  to  give  up  your  old  waking 
dreams — things  that  you  have  pictured 
out  and  acted  over  in  your  imagination 
and  your  hopes.  To  let  them  all  go, 
with  a  saddened  but  willing  heart. 
You  feel  as  if  you  had  follen  under  some 
irresistible  attraction,  which  is  hurrying 
you  into  the  unseen  world. 

Before,  you  only  heard  of  the  mys- 
tery ;  now  you  feel  it.  He  has  fasten- 
ed on  you  His  look  of  love,  even  as  on 
Peter  and  Mary  ;  and  you  can  not  choose 
but  follow :  and  in  following  Him, 
altogether  forget  both  yourselves,  and 
all  your  visions  of  life  in  this  present 
world. 


TIIOUGUTS    FOR   AVEARY   HOURS.       33 

Lead,  Saviour,  lead.     Amid  the  encircling  gloom, 

Lead  thou  me  on. 
The  night  is  dark  and  I  am  far  from  home ; 

Lead  thou  me  on. 
Keep  thou  my  feet.     I  do  not  ask  to  sec 
The  distant  scene ;   one  step's  enough  for  me. 

I  was  not  ever  thus,  nor  prayed  that  Thou 

Shouldst  lead  me  on : 
I  loved  to  choose  and  see  my  path;  but  now 

Lead  thou  me  on. 
I  loved  the  glare  of  day ;  and,  spite  off  ears, 
Pride  ruled  my  will.     Remember  not  past  years. 

So  long  Thy  power  hath  blessed  me ;  sure,  it  still 

Will  lead  me  on, 
O'er  vale  and  hill,  through  stream  and  torrent,  till 

The  night  is  gone, 
And,  with  the  morn,  those  angel-faces  srailc 
Which  I  have  loved  long  since,  and  lost  awhile. 

XXVII. 

TRIALS . 

Ax  hour  ill  our  life  will  surely  come 
when  we  shall  be  enabled  to  say  that 
we  have  not  had  one  trial  too  much,  not 
one  that  could  have  been  spared ;  and 


34       THOUGHTS   FOR  "WE^VRY   HOURS. 

the  heart  will  become  burdened  with 
the  sense  of  an  aAvful  reality,  a  percep- 
tion of  that  wonderful  fact  that  the 
events  of  life  are  in  themselves  nothing ; 
that  they  are  but  the  body  destined  to 
decay;  yet  that  each,  however  trifling, 
bears  within  it  the  seed  that  is  to  exist 
for  eternity ;  and  we  will  feel  that  we 
can  yield  ourselves  passively  to  any  cir- 
cumstances, whether  happy  or  unhappy ; 
neither  wearying  ourselves  with  regrets 
for  the  past,  nor  burdening  ourselves 
with  cares  for  the  future  ;  so  only  that 
the  present  moment  might  add  its  grain 
of  faith  and  holiness  to  the  treasure  gar- 
nered in  the  hand  of  God  against  the 
great  day  of  account. 

XX  vm. 

""WHO     GIVETH    SONGS    IN    THE 
NIGHT." 

We  tliink  too  much  that  external 
facts  and  circumstances  govern  happi- 
ness.     Thougli   strongly   ailecting   fuel- 


THOUGHTS  FOR  WEARY  HOURS.   35 

ing,  wliich  certainly  alters  as  circum- 
stances alter,  yet  by  no  arrangement 
of  circumstances  can  feelings  be  gov- 
erned or  insured.  In  all  our  hopes  and 
fears,  in  every  anticipation,  we  ought 
to  think  more  of  our  Heavenly  Father, 
who  aiiects  the  spirit  of  man  in  what- 
ever way  He  will,  and  can  give  us  happi- 
ness or  grief,  v>'ithout  regard  to  causes. 
Did  we  more  entirely  trust  the  power 
and  love  of  God,  we  might  look  for- 
ward to  life's  uncertainties  with  calm- 
ness, knowing  that  as  by  His  will  plen- 
tiful refreshment  can  be  brought  out  of 
the  most  stony  rock  in  our  journey 
through  the  wilderness,  so  by  the  same 
Avill  the  fruitful  land  may  be  made  bar- 
ren, and  we  may  be  smitten  with  woe 
when  all  around  us  is  smiling  in  un- 
clouded prosperity. 

*'  How  can  I  sink  with  such  a  prop 
As  my  eternal  God, 
Wlio  bears  the  earth's  huge  pillars  up, 
And  spreads  the  heavens  abroad  ?  " 


3G        TUOUGUTS   FOR   WEAKY    HOUES. 

XXIX. 

"GK01?V    IN     GRACE." 

Faith  and  submission,  though  given 
in  answer  to  our  prayers,  are  tlie  result 
of  a  long  and  laborious  conflict,  and 
they  are  well  worthy  of  it.  God  will 
have  us  labor  to  attain  them.  Adam 
says,  in  his  JPHvate  Thoughts:  "  Nothing 
is  more  easy  than  to  say  the  words  of 
a  prayer ;  but  to  pray  hungering  and 
thirsting  is  the  hardest  of  all  works." 
It  is  by  being  often  upon  our  knees, 
by  reiterating  our  prayers,  by  show- 
ing God  that  we  feel  the  value  of  f\\ith, 
and  by  adding  to  i^rayer  the  exercise  of 
it,  that  w^e  receive,  in  answer  to  a  first 
prayer,  a  little  faith  by  which  -we  are 
encouraged  to  more  fervent  prayer, 
which  will  again  obtain  a  new  measure 
of  it,  that  we  shall  attain  to  the  free 
measure  of  faith. 

To  grow  in  faith,  we  have  three  things 
to  do — to  ask  it,  to  exercise  it,  and  to 


THOUGHTS   FOR  WEARY   HOURS.      Si 

contemplate  exam})les  of  it  in  the  great 
saints  by  the  study  of  the  Scriptures. 
And  furthermore  we  must  gather  faith 
for  the  future.  We  must  hibor  to-day, 
to  have  the  faith  we  may  require  in  five, 
ten,  twenty  years.  "We  must  gather 
day  by  day  the  spiritual  provision,  so 
that,  surrounded  by  the  most  abundant 
gifts  of  God,  we  have  only  to  open  our 
eyes  and  stretch  out  our  hands  ;  for 
wlien  the  time  of  trouble  and  sorrow 
comes,  the  drooping  spirit  will  need  all 
this  strength  for  the  terrible  struggle. 
Therefore,  grow  daily  in  grace,  that 
you  may  have  provision  against  the  day 
of  trouble. 

XXX. 

,.     FOR    PATIENCE. 

Sweet  Patience,  come ! 
With  long  distress  my  spirit  faints, 
And  my  heart  breaks  with  its  complaints ; 
And  eager  Pain  to  find  relief, 
Solicits  even  change  of  grief; 


38        THOUGHTS    FOR    WEARY    HOURS. 

And  Unbelief  disturbs  my  trust, 
And  shakes  my  hopes,  as,  with  a  gust, 
Spring  blossoms  flutter  from  the  stalk, 
And  withering  lie  upon  the  walk. 
Sweet  Patience,  come  ! 

Sweet  Patience,  come  ! 
Not  from  a  low  and  earthly  source, 
Waiting  till  things  shall  have  their  course ; 
Not  as  accepting  present  pain 
In  hope  of  some  hereafter  gain  ; 
Not  in  a  dull  and  sullen  calm ; 
But  as  a  breath  of  heavenly  balm, 
Bidding  my  weary  heart  submit 
To  bear  whatever  God  sees  fit. 
Sweet  Patience,  come ! 

Sweet  Patience,  come ! 
Tell  me  my  Father  hath  not  shed 
One  grief  too  many  on  my  head ; 
Tell  me  His  love  remembers  still 
His  children,  suffering  at  His  will. 
How  excellent  a  thought  to  me 
His  loving-kindness  then  shall  be  ! 
Then,  in  the  shadow  of  His  wings, 
ril  hide  me  from  all  troublous  things. 
Sweet  Patience,  come  1 


THOUGnXS   FOR   WEARY    HOURS.       89 

XXXI. 

WORK    FOK    GOD, 

Whex  you  awake  in  the  morning,  and 
wlien  that  heavy  pain  wakes  up  too,  oh ! 
so  sharply  !  and  the  burden  of  a  monot- 
onous life  falls  down  upon  you,  or  rises 
like  a  dead,  blank  wall  before  you,  mak- 
ing you  turn  round  on  your  pillow  long- 
iuG^  for  another  nii^ht  instead  of  an  un- 
supportable  day,  rouse  yourself.  Re- 
member what  you  are — a  child  of  God ; 
say,  "  What  have  I  got  to  do  to-day  ?" 
not,  "  What  have  I  to  enjoy  or  suffer  ?" 
but,  "  What  have  I  to  do  T'  Don't  try 
to  be  happy,  but  try  to  work  ;  work  for 
God,  and  happiness  will  come. 

XXXII. 

A  woman's  work  lies  close  under  her 
feet.  Whatsoever  thy  hand  findeth  to 
do,  do  it  with  thy  might.  Question  it 
not.  Philosophize  not  over  it,  but  do 
it :  only  do  it  thoroughly  and  complete- 
ly, be  it  ever  so  great  or  small. 


40   THOUGHTS  FOR  WEAKY  HOURS. 

XXXIII. 

THINK    NOT    OF    TO-MORROW. 

It  is  a  blessed  attainment  to  live  for 
each  day,  and  for  each  day  only.  We 
have  grace  promised  to  bear  present 
evils,  but  none  to  bear  anticipated  ones. 

If  thou  foredate  the  day  of  woe, 
Then  thou  alone  must  bear  the  blow." 

"  I  think  not  of  to-morrow, 

Its  trial  or  its  task, 
But  still,  with  child-like  spirit. 

For  present  mercies  ask. 
With  each  returning  morning, 

I  cast  old  things  away  ; 
Life's  journey  lies  before  me, 

My  prayer  is  for  to-day." 

XXXIV. 

P    E  A  C  E  . 

If  we  would  have  peace,  we  must 
leave  our  selfish  wishing  and  planning 
—  take  our  heart's  desire,  and  lay  it 
down    at    our    Master's    feet,  saying: 


THOUGHTS   FOR   WEARY    HOURS.      41 

*'Thy  will,  not  mine."  Every  disciple 
of  Jesus  has  a  cross  to  bear,  a  conflict 
to  wage,  a  victory  to  strive  after. 
What  is  mine?  The  subduing  of  my 
will  to  God's  will.  Every  idol  must  be 
overthrown — every  rebellious  murmur 
stilled.     The  Lord  must  reign  supreme. 

XXXV. 

"THY    "WILL    BE    DONE." 

A  GREAT  and  wonderful  work  is  to  be 
wrought  in  every  one  who  will  submit 
to  be  guided  by  Infinite  Wisdom.  The 
feeble  creature  is  to  will  what  God 
wills ;  to  be  raised  from  all  its  little  per- 
ishing interests ;  and  to  seek  the  glory 
of  God  and  the  good  of  His  creatures, 
(not  excluding  self,)  as  a  portion  of  His 
glory.  Whatever  sorrow  or  bereave- 
ment befalls  is  a  fresh  j^roof  that  this 
exaltation  is  still  designed  for  us.  Do 
you  reject  it,  and  set  your  hearts  upon 
a  lower  good  ?     Still  God  is  stronoc  and 


42        THOUGHTS    FOE    WEARY   HOURS. 

patient  ;  still  He  waits  to  be  gracious. 
Observe  liow  He  gently  strives  with 
our  foolish  j^ropensity  to  go  down 
lower.  Mental  pursuits,  noble  and 
good  though  they  be,  can  not  console 
you,  and  will  not  prosper,  if  you  begin 
to  treat  them  as  ultimate  ends.  Nor 
will  the  objects  of  your  most  self-sacri- 
ficing love  flourish,  if  you  idolize  them  ; 
even  j^lans  for  doing  good  to  other  peo- 
ple will  be  frustrated,  if  every  purpose 
and  wish  is  not  subordinated,  without 
reserve,  to  the  faithful  service  of  your 
Master. 

Nothing  but  perfect  trust 
And  love  of  Thy  perfect  will, 

Can  raise  me  out  of  the  dust 
And  bid  my  fears  be  still. 

Even  as  now  my  hands, 

So  doth  my  folded  will 
Lie  waiting  Thy  commandg, 

Without  one  anxious  thrill. 

But  as  with  sudden  pain 
My  hands  unfold  and  clasp, 


TnouGirrs  for  weaky  hours.     43 

So  doth  my  will  start  up  again, 
And  taketh  its  old,  firm  grasp. 

Lord,  fix  mine  eyes  upon  Thee, 
And  fill  my  heart  with  Thy  love ; 

And  keep  my  soul  till  the  shadows  flee, 
And  the  light  breaks  forth  above. 


XXXVI. 

REST    IN    THE    LORD. 

Rest  in  the  Lord.  What  is  this? 
Not  physical  repose;  no,  for,  however 
sweet,  however  salutary,  the  rest  of  the 
body  is  but  the  feeble  type  of  that  truer 
rest  which  David  means  when  he  says  : 
''Return  unto  thy  rest,  O  my  soul." 
Ah!  it  is  a  rest  sweeter  than  sleep — 
deeper  than  death  —  it  never  ceases, 
never  satiates.  When  doubt  and  disbe- 
lief are  banished  from  the  heart,  Avhen 
Faith  reigns,  when  the  object  of  life  is 
found  in  Christ,  when  God  becomes  the 
sure  portion  and  sweetest  joy  of  the 
heart  and  the  spirit  within  us,  then  is 


4-1        THOUGHTS    FOK   WEARY    IIOUES. 

the  true  rest  of  man — the  stiUness  of  tlie 
weary  spirit  in  the  everlasting  arms. 
"When  we  can  look  calmly  and  steadily 
on  hopes  fading  away,  expectations  dis- 
appointed, plans  frustrated ;  when  we 
can  meekly  bow  the  head  to  mortifica- 
tion and  sorroAV,  hecaiise  it  is  the  lot  ap- 
l^ointed  to  us  by  the  Lord,  and  entirely, 
sincerely,  yea,  gladly  surrender  our  will 
to  our  Father  in  heaven,  then  "  He  giv- 
eth  Ilis  beloved  sleep ;"  then  His  peace 
keepeth  heart  and  mind.  Yes,  the  peace 
of  the  holy  mind  is  the  result  of  self-con- 
quest— the  bringing  of  every  thought  in 
subjection  to  Christ. 

How  is  this  attained?  By  a  long- 
protracted  process  of  holy  discipline ; 
by  many  a  weary  hour  of  inward  con- 
flict ;  fainting,  striving,  falling,  reviving, 
yet  ever  on  the  whole  growing  in  con- 
formity to  the  will  of  God.  And  when 
that  glorious  end  is  gained  ;  when  Christ 
gives  us  the  victory,  and  self  is  quelled, 
and    duty  reigns   supreme   within    the 


THOUGHTS   FOR   WEARY    HOURS.       45 

breast ;  wlieii  "  the  immortal  soul  be- 
comes consistent  in  self-rule,"  then  the 
weary  strife  of  frail  humanity  is  at  an 
end,  and  a  repose — oh !  how  deep,  how 
tranquil,  how  sublime  ! — diffuses  itself 
til  rough  the  sj^irit — a  repose  in  which 
tliere  is  at  once  calmness  and  power,  the 
sweet  serenity  of  an  infant's  slumber, 
yet  the  strength  of  an  angel  of  God. 


XXX  YII. 

THE    LIVING    GOD. 

Do  you  know  what  it  is  to  exult  in 
God  as  a  living  God  ?  Not  to  think  of 
Him  as  some  mysterious  essence,  who, 
by  an  almighty  fiat,  impressed  on  matter 
certain  general  laws,  and  retiring  into 
the  solitude  of  His  own  being,  left  these 
to  work  out  their  OAvn  processes.  But  is 
there  joy  to  you  in  the  thought  of  God 
ever  nigh^  compassing  your  path  and 
your  lying  down  ?     Do  you  know  of  one 


4G        TIIOUGnXS    FOR   WEARY    UOURS. 

brighter  tlian  the  brightest  radiance  of 
the  visible  sun,  visiting  your  chamber 
with  the  first  waking  beam  of  the  morn- 
ing; an  eye  of  infinite  tenderness  and 
compassion  following  you  throughout 
the  day ;  a  hand  of  infinite  love  guiding 
you,  shielding  you  from  danger,  and 
guarding  you  from  temptation  —  the 
"  Keeper  of  Israel,"  who  "  neither  slum- 
bers nor  sleeps  "  ? 

And  if  gladdening  it  be  at  all  times 
to  hear  the  footsteps  of  this  living  God, 
more  especially  gladdening  it  is  in  the 
season  of  trial  to  think  of  Hun,  and  to 
own  Him  in  the  midst  of  mysterious 
dealings,  as  one  who  personally  loves 
you,  and  who  chastises  you  because  He 
loves  you. 

The  world,  in  its  cold  vocabulary,  in 
the  hour  of  adversity,  speaks  of  Provi- 
dence, "  the  will  of  Providence,  the 
strokes  of  Providence."  Providence  ! 
what  is  that  ?  Why  dethrone  a  living 
God  from  the  sovereignty  of  His  owu 


THOUGHTS   FOll   WEARY    HOUllS.       47 

world  ?  Why  substitute  a  cold,  dcatli- 
liko  abstraction  in  place  of  a  living  one, 
an  acting  one,  and,  to  as  many  as  He 
loves,  a  rebuking  and  chastening  one? 
How  it  would  take  the  sting  from  many 
a  goading  trial,  thus  to  see,  as  Job  did, 
nothing  but  the  hand  of  God,  and  to  say, 
like  David  :  "  I  was  dumb  ;  I  opened  not 
my  mouth,  because  Thou  didst  it."  Oh ! 
seek  to  live  more  under  the  habitual 
thought  of  God's  presence  ! 

In  dark  ^^assages  of  our  earthly  his- 
tory, we  know  how  supporting  it  is  to 
enjoy  the  sympathy  of  kindred  human 
friends.  What  must  it  be  to  have  the 
consciousness  of  the  presence  and  support 
and  nearness  of  the  Being  of  all  beings  ? 
Would  you  weather  the  tempest  of  life, 
and  sit  calm  and  unmoved  amid  the  noise 
of  its  many  waters  ?  Let  your  eye  rest 
on  a  living  God,  a  loving  Father,  a  hea- 
venly Pilot.  See  Him  guarding  the  ves- 
sel of  your  temporal  and  eternal  des- 
tinies !     Let  Faith  be  hoard  raising  her 


48        THOUGHTS   FOR   WEARY    HOURS. 

triumpliant  accents  amid  tlie  pauses  of 
the  storm  :  "  O  Lord  our  God,  wlio  is  a 
strong  Lord  like  unto  thee  !  Thou  rulest 
the  raging  of  the  sea.  When  the  waves 
thereof  arise,  Thou  stillest  them." 

Above  all,  be  it  yours  to  enjoy  what 
David  knew  perfectly  —  the  conscious 
nearness  of  a  living  Saviour,  a  Brother 
on  the  throne  of  heaven,  Christ  our  life, 
God  in  our  nature,  the  man  Christ  Jesus, 
susceptible  of  every  human  sympathy, 
capable  of  entering  with  infinite  tender- 
ness into  every  human  want  and  Avoe, 
bending  over  us  with  His  j^itying  eye, 
marking  out  for  us  our  path,  ordering 
our  sorrows,  filling  or  emptying  our 
cups,  providing  our  pastures,  and  mak- 
ing all  things  work  together  for  our 
good.  The  words  at  this  moment  are 
as  true  as  when,  eighteen  hundred  years 
ago,  they  came  fresh  from  His  lips  in 
Patmos  :  "  I  am  the  living  One  !  Behold, 
I  am  alive  for  evermore." 


THOUGHTS   FOK    AVEARY   HOURS.      49 

XXXVIII. 

WHY     ART     THOU     CAST     DOWN?" 

0  Lord  !   I  pray  Thee  comfort  me, 
In  this  my  sore  and  deep  distress ; 

And  let  my  troubled  spirit  see 
The  wonders  of  Thy  faithfulness  ! 

Shine  on  this  barren  ground,  that  I 

Lose  not  the  fruits  which  should  spring  up ; 

Let  me  not  pass  Thy  mercy  by, 
Nor  miss  the  sweetness  in  my  cup. 

Sweetness  there  is.     I  know  it,  Lord  ; 

And  otherwise  it  can  not  be. 
It  is  my  Father's  hand  that  poured 

This  mixture  in  the  cup  for  me. 

But  much  I  fear  lest  my  self-will, 

So  disappointed  and  so  blind. 
Should  overlook  the  sweet,  or  spill, 

And  nothing  but  the  bitter  find. 

What  is  it,  Lord?    Dost  Thou  intend 
That  patience  should  take  root  in  me  ? 

Is  it  Thy  will  my  will  to  bend, 
That  I  more  like  a  child  may  be  ? 

Is  it  to  raise  my  heart  above 
All  earthly  joy  and  earthly  pleasure, 


50   THOUGHTS  FOR  WEARY  HOURS. 

And  loose  ray  hands  from  earthly  love, 
To  fill  them  full  of  heavenly  treasure  ? 

To  hinder  this  poor  mortal-clinging, 

And  set  my  heart  from  earth-bonds  free  ? 

0  God  !  my  spirit  art  Thou  bringing 
Nearer  to  leaving  all  for  Thee  ? 

Whatever  be  Thy  gracious  thought, 
Let  me  not  lose  its  sweet  design ; 

Since  Jesus  hath  the  blessing  wrought, 
Oh  !  for  His  sake,  may  it  be  mine ! 

Alas  !  my  unsubmissive  heart, 
Believing  its  own  aching  sense, 
,       Saith  sweetness  here  can  have  no  part. 

Or  e'en  that  God  hath  caught  it  thence. 

Ah  !  Lord,  my  lesson  lieth  here  ! 

Faith  should  be  eyes  when  eyes  are  dim ! 
Say  to  my  doubts:  "  Thy  God  is  near  !  " 

Say  to  ray  grief:  "Hope  thou  in  Him." 

XXXIX. 

"IN    EVERY   THINa    GIVE    THANKS." 

"When  the  hour  of  anxiety  and  trial 
comes,  lay  the  desire  of  your  heart  be- 
fore the  Lord,  and  wait  to  see  what  He 


TUOUGUTS   FOR   WEAllY    IIOUKS.       51 

will  do  for  yoii !  Do  not  i:)ine  and 
grieve  over  an  uncertain  portion,  Avlien 
the  best  is  secured  to  you  —  I  mean 
God's  grace !  Be  like  a  little  child  that 
lies  on  the  grass  and  looks  up  at  the  sky. 
That  is  enough  for  it;  and  when  it  is 
hungry  and  cries,  its  mother  comes  and 
nourishes  it  from  her  breast.  And  so 
does  our  gracious  God  to  us.  Ilis  ways, 
to  be  sure,  are  wonderful,  so  that  we 
can  not  imderstand  them,  and  often 
think  a  heavy  misfortune  has  befallen 
us ;  yet  when  we  close  our  eyes  and  fol- 
low softly  in  the  way  He  leads,  we  find 
that  in  the  end  it  turns  out  all  for  our 
good ! 

I  have  often  tormented  myself  with 
anxious  cares  during  my  whole  life,  and 
it  never  helped  me  forward ;  on  the  con- 
trary, the  very  things  I  was  most  afraid 
of,  have  generally  proved  my  best  help- 
ers when  they  occurred.  All  God's 
dealings  with  us  are  messengers  ap- 
pointed to  tell  us  His  will,  if  we  could 


52        TUOUGHTS    FOR   WEARY    HOURS. 

but  understand  it.  We  are  told  in  tlie 
Bible  that  when  the  angel  came  to  the 
Shepherds,  bringing  them  the  best  news 
earth  ever  heard,  "they  were  sore  afraid." 
And  is  it  not  often  the  same  with  us  ? 
But  if  we  listen  rightly,  the  Lord's  mes- 
sengers ever  reply  in  the  same  words : 
"Fear  not."  And  so  do  you  be  still, 
and  let  God  send  you  what  He  will. 
AVhen  a  dark  thunder-cloud  draws  on, 
it  looks  black  and  terrible  ;  but  when  it 
has  passed  by,  the  brightest  rainbow 
is  painted  on  it !  and  in  like  manner, 
every  affliction  looks  quite  different  be- 
fore and  behind.  We  must  remember 
that  all  things  come  to  us  back-foremost, 
so  that  we  can  never  see  them  right  in 
the  face,  so  as  to  understand  what  they 
are  really  like,  until  they  are  gone  by. 
Ah!  never  forget  that  heaven  reaches 
down  close,  quite  close  to  earth,  so  that 
whoever  raises  his  head  in  a  right  man- 
ner, is  sure  to  find  himself  in  heaven 
with  our  gracious  God  and  all  His  holy 


THOUGHTS   FOR   WEARY    HOURS.      53 

angels,  even  tliougli  our  blind  eyes  can 
not  perceive  them.  And  never  forget 
also  to  thank  God  for  every  thing.      j 

XL. 

SUBMISSION. 

The  essence  of  Christianity  is  self-re- 
nnnciation,  and  the  discipline  that  brings 
lis  to  feel  our  child-like  dependence  is 
the  perfecting  of  our  piety.  Grief  after 
grief  brings  us  to  joy.  Broken  in  spirit 
we  are  made  whole,  humbled  we  are  ex- 
alted. We  gain  the  great  victory 
through  a  succession  of  defeats.  Pres- 
ently after  Saul  was  stopped  in  the  city 
to  hear  the  word  of  God,  Ave  are  told 
"  he  was  led  up  into  the  hill  of  the 
Lord ;"  so  we  are  struck  down,  that  we 
may  ascend  into  the  mount ;  troubled, 
that  we  may  have  peace  ;  worried  into 
the  rest  of  our  Father's  arms.  We  sin 
when  we  chafe  against  the  providential 
conditions  of  our  lot.     Submission  is  a 


54        THOUGHTS   FOR   WEARY   HOURS. 

brave  achievement.  There  is  no  state 
wliere  you  may  not  win  acceptance,  be- 
cause there  is  none  where  you  may  not 
give  your  affections,  and  "rest  in  the 
Lord  and  wait  patiently  for  Ilim."  If 
we  are  obedient  in  all  the  gentleness  of 
faith  to  the  voice  that  says,  "  Be  still, 
and  know  that  I  am  God,"  then  will 
Christ  do  for  us  more  than  Samuel  for 
Saul,  showing  us  His  word,  giving  us 
another  heart  and  anointing  and  crown- 
ing the  least  of  us,  not  princes  and  cap- 
tains of  armies  here,  but  "kings  and 
priests  unto  God,"  because  servants  of 
Himself. 

XLI. 

"THOU  SHALT  REMEMBER  ALL  THE 
WAY  WHICH  THE  LORD  THY  GOD 
LED    THEE." 

Go  back  in  memory  to  the  days  of 
long  ago.  Recall  the  wind  tempered  to 
the  shorn  lamb  —  the  strong  wave  of 
temptation  breasted — the  hurtful  thing 


THOUGHTS   FOE    WEARY    IIOUKS.       55 

to  whicli  your  soul  clung  removed  out 
of  your  patli — the  right  way  chosen  for 
you  instead  of  the  wrong  way  chosen 
of  yourself — the  measure  of  affliction 
meted  out  which  you  required  — the 
friends  selected  Avhom  your  soul  need- 
ed—the breathing-times  granted  which 
your  tired  and  struggling  spirit  yearned 
for ;  oh !  thank  your  God  for  it  all !  He 
it  is  who  has  been  your  guide  through 
the  waste,  howling  Avilderness,  and  the 
brightener  of  all  green  places  with  His 
smile.  Go  deep  into  the  chambers  of 
your  soul.  See  there  the  bright  hope 
smiling,  and  the  light  shinmg,  and  the 
new  heart  struggling,  and  the  old  sins 
stafi-o-ering  and  falling.  Listen  there  to 
the  voice  which  whispers  all  tender 
things  of  the  love  "unspeakable." 

*'  When  all  Thy  mercies,  0  my  God  ! 
My  rising  soul  surveys, 
Transported  with  the  view,  I'm  lost 
In  wonder,  love,  and  praise." 


56        THOUGHTS   FOR    WEARY   HOURS. 

XLH. 

ACCEPTING    THE    CROSS. 

When  dejection  of  spirit  at  bitter  dis- 
appointment comes  upon  you,  do  not  en- 
courage a  resentful  spirit,  that  vents 
itself  in  words  hopelessly  sad,  or  in  con- 
fessions of  a  universal  distrust,  or  in  a 
sullen  cold  reserve,  calling  the  ordering 
of  the  Almighty  fate^  or  a  forced  hard- 
ness or  indifference  which  has  been 
called  "  philosophy."  Learn  the  will 
of  the  Lord,  meekly  accept  the  cross  He 
sends.  You  must  be  detached  from  every 
earthly  object,  that  in  the  least  degree 
separates  from  God;  and  yet  you  are 
not  to  turn  away  from  these  objects  alto- 
gether, because  they  are  His  gifts.  He 
smites  your  pleasant  things  and  leaves 
you  lonely  in  a  desert  laud,  in  order  that 
you  may  better  hear  His  voice,  and  de- 
sire His  love,  and  feel  that  He  is  indeed 
your  God.     Thank  Him  for  the  empti- 


THOUGHTS   FOR   WEARY    HOURS.      57 

ness  of  your  present  life,  for  only  thus 
could  your  hungry  soul  be  urged  to  sat- 
isfy itself  with  things  that  shall  endure. 

XLIII. 

RENEWED     CONSECRATION". 

This  crossing  of  our  Avills  must  be  re- 
ceived in  an  humble  and  docile  spirit. 
There  should  be  no  gloomy  looks,  no 
peevish  complaining.  It  is  our  Father 
who  sends  it.  That  name  is  enough  for 
us.  Remember  that  those  who  are 
walking  the  same  Avay  with  us  must  be 
cheered,  not  discouraged.  No  matter 
how  sick  the  heart,  nor  how  fierce  the 
warfare  within,  keep  a  cheerful  face, 
have  a  comforting  word  for  those  around 
you.  The  very  effort  to  do  so  will 
bring  a  blessing  with  it. 

How  often  do  I  give  myself  to  God, 
yield  up  my  Avill  to  His,  and  as  quickly 
take  myself  back  again,  and  fall  away 
from  Ilim !     Begin  again.     Give  thvself 


68        THOUGHTS   FOK    WEARY    HOURS. 

to  Him  afresh.  Trust  thyself  to  the 
power  of  tliy  Father,  who  has  all  power 
and  might,  and  whose  presence  thou 
hast  so  often  and  so  plainly  felt,  and  art 
yet  made  to  feel  every  day  and  hour. 
Trust  Him  wholly,  and  seek  His  right- 
eousness ;  for  therein  is  His  righteous- 
ness shown,  that  He  abideth  ever  with 
those  who  heartily  seek  Him,  and  make 
Him  their  end,  and  give  themselves  up 
to  Him.  In  such  He  reigns,  and  all 
vain  care  falls  away  of  itself,  in  those 
who  keep  thus  close  to  God,  in  true 
self-surrender. 

XLIV. 

"LOOKING     UNTO     JESUS." 

Ah  !  when  we  return  night  after  night 
to  our  room  —  the  home  of  our  truest 
being,  and  feel  too  sick-hearted  with 
daily  vanities  to  lift  up  even  a  sigh  to 
the  Physician  of  our  souls,  what  depres- 
sion of  spirit !  Avhat  longings  to  escape 
from   every   surrounding !      Day    after 


Tn OUGHTS   FOR   WEA.RY    HOURS.      59 

day  we  have  prayed  ere  we  went  forth 
imto  the  woHd,  tliat  the  thoughts  of  our 
hearts  might  be  sanctified  and  our  steps 
uphekl  in  the  narrow  way,  and  yet  how 
often  when  at  night  we  call  ourselves  to 
account,  do  we  have  to  record  broken 
resolves,  unholy  thoughts,  words  and 
deeds  ! 

At  such  times  we  shrink  from 
prayer  —  it  seems  like  a  mockery  of 
holiness.  But  let  us  not,  oh !  let  us  not 
deprive  ourselves  of  the  only  remaining 
help  !  There  is  7io  der/ree  of  sin  or  folly 
that  can  make  it  wrong  for  us  to  cry 
out — "Lord,  if  thou  wilt  thou  canst 
make  me  clean  !"  lie  can— oh !  entreat 
that  He  will,  and  do  not  for  a  moment 
doubt  that  He  can  bring  us  back  to 
peace. 

Can  the  Saviour  withhold  His  pity, 
His  aid.  His  prevailing  love,  from 
one  of  His  flock  who  humbly  cries  to 
Him  for  succor  ?  Even  Jonah,  who  had 
not  the  fullness  of  promise  granted  to 


GO        THOUGHTS   FOR   WEARY    HOURS. 

US,  said,  after  his  act  of  direct  disobedi- 
ence :  "  I  am  cast  out  of  Thy  sight ;  yet 
I  will  look  again  toward  Thy  holy 
temple."  We  can  look  unto  Jesus,  the 
propitiation  for  our  sins,  "the  same 
yesterday,  to-day,  and  forever."  The 
most  sin-stricken  heart  may  look  to  Him 
and  be  saved.  He  alone  discovers  by 
what  a  complete  tissue  of  vanity,  guilt, 
and  evil  influence,  the  devil  ensnares  us, 
and  makes  our  weakness  both  the  veil 
and  the  instrument  of  sin.  He  who 
knows  all,  yet  loves  us  better  than  He 
knows,  still  tenderly  regards  our  pros- 
trate souls,  and  may  yet  find  a  way  for 
their  escape. 

XLV. 

UNKESTRAINED    PRAYER. 

The  comfort  of  imrestrained  prayer  is 
not  sufficiently  prized  by  many,  even  of 
those  whose  prayers  are  habitually  per- 
severing and  true.  Suppose  that  in  the 
course  of  some  uninteresting  day  you 


THOUGHTS   FOR   WEARY    HOURS.      01 

come  lip  to  your  own  room  longing  for 
any  sensation  of  spiritual  life.  Feeling 
none,  you  kneel.  If  you  use  a  formula 
of  prayer  to  which  your  lips  are  accus- 
tomed, it  is  too  likely  that  they  only 
will  pray,  and  not  your  heart.  If  you 
truly  express  your  prese?it  feeling,  your 
heart  will  go  with  your  lijDs.  Try  if  it 
will  not  be  so.  Look  back  to  the  things 
which  have  touched  you  since  your  last 
praying ;  a  slight  provocation — a  pain- 
ful train  of  thought  suggested  by  a 
casual  remark.  Try  to  draw  out  these 
impressions  from  vagueness,  and  repre- 
sent their  accompaniments  of  weakness 
and  fear  to  Almighty  God. 

In  the  mid  silence  of  the  voiceless  night, 
When  chased  by  airy  dreams  the  slumbers  flee  ; 
Whom  in  the  darkness  doth  my  spirit  seek, 
0  God !  but  Thee  ? 

And  if  there  be  a  weight  upon  my  heart, 
Some  vague  impression  of  the  day  foregone; 
Scarce  knowing  what  it  is,  I  fly  to  Thee 
And  lay  it  down. 


62      THOUGHTS  fok  weary  hours. 

Or  if  it  be  tlic  heaviness  that  comes 
In  token  of  anticipated  ill — 
My  bosom  takes  no  heed  of  what  it  is, 
Since  'tis  Thy  will. 

For  oh  !  in  spite  of  past  and  present  care, 
Or  any  thing  beside — how  joyfully 
Passes  that  almost  solitary  hour, 

My  God,  with  Thee  ! 

More  tranquil  than  the  stillness  of  the  night, 
More  peaceful  than  the  silence  of  that  hour, 
More  blest  than  any  thing,  my  bosom  lies 
Beneath  Thy  power. 

For  what  is  there  on  earth  that  I  desire 

Of  all  that  it  can  give  or  take  from  me  ? 

Or  whom  in  heaven  doth  my  spirit  seek, 

0  God !  but  Thee  ? 

XLYI. 

THE     FUTUKE. 

"When  dejectedly  looking  forward  to 
tlie  future,  you  are  apt  to  think  that  it 
can  not  hold  the  happiness  for  which  you 
have  hoped  hitherto ;  that  it  must  neces- 
sarily be  a  wearisome   continuation  of 


THOUGHTS  FOR  WE  ART  HOURS.   03 

the  present.  Perhaps  it  may  be  so  in 
its  external  features,  (though  that  is  not 
often  likely,)  but  we  know  little  of  the 
infinite  resources  of  rrovidence,  and 
the  expansive  faculties  of  an  immortal 
spirit,  if  we  think  that  years  can  pass  by 
without  causing  a  renovation  of  its  ac- 
tivity and  a  plentiful  growth  of  new  in- 
terests and  new  pleasures. 

However  dark  and  profitless,  however 
})ainful  and  weary  existence  may  have 
become  ;  however  any  man,  like  Elijah, 
may  be  tempted  to  cast  himself  beneath 
the  juniper  tree  and  say.  It  is  enough, 
now,  O  Lord !  life  is  not  done,  and  our 
Christian  character  is  not  finished,  so 
long  as  God  has  any  thing  left  for  us  to 
sufler,  or  any  thing  left  for  us  to  do. 

XL  VII. 

REST   AND    LABOR. 

Two  bands  upon  the  breast- 

And  labor's  done 
Two  pale  feet  crossed  in  rest — 

The  race  is  won  ; 


64        THOUGHTS   FOR   AVEARY    II0UK5. 

Two  eyes  with  coin-weights  shut — 

And  all  tears  cease : 
Two  lips  where  grief  is  mute — 
Anger  at  peace  ! 
So  pray  we  oftentimes,  mourning  our  lot : 
God  in  His  kindness  answereth  us  not. 

Two  hands  to  work  addrest 

Aye  for  His  praise  ; 
Two  feet  that  never  rest, 

AYalking  His  ways ; 
Two  eyes  that  look  above, 

Through  all  their  tears ; 
Two  lips  still  breathing  love, 

Not  wrath  nor  fears  ! 
So  pray  we  afterward  low  on  our  knees  ; 
Pardon  those  erring  prayers  !  Father,  hear  these  I 

XLYIII. 

-WRONG    THOUGHTS. 

"We  ought  to  be  more  careful  in  onr 
expenditure  of  thought.  We  all  practi- 
cally underrate  their  importance,  and 
yet  an  allowed  thought  is  the  deed  of 
tlie  spirit.  Could  we  see  all  the  calami- 
ty brought  on  ourselves  by  entertaining 


THOUGHTS    FOR   WEARY    HOURS.      65 

thoughts  that  are  foolish  and  wrong,  we 
should  be  more  careful  to  keej:)  them 
in  a  right  channel.  I  call  it  a  foolish 
thought  which  consciously  reverts  to  an 
irremediable  sorrow  for  no  other  pur- 
pose than  self-pitj.  Why  are  we  not  in 
this  respect  as  considerate  of  our  own 
peace  as  we  are  of  the  peace  of  any 
other  heart?  By  common  politeness 
we  are  used  to  avoid  subjects  that  are 
painful  to  our  companions,  when  no 
good  is  to  be  gained  by  alluding  to 
them;  might  we  not  advantageously 
practise  the  same  sort  of  tact  with  our- 
selves, and  avoid  all  profitless  self-an- 
noyance, all  meditation  on  sorrowful 
questions  which  admit  of  no  answer,  but 
the  "  so  be  it "  of  sighing  resignation  ? 

XLIX. 

PAST   ERROBS. 

It  is  wise  to  forget  past  errors. 
There  is  a  kind  of  temperament  which, 
when  indulged,  greatly  hinders  growth 


66        THOUGHTS   FOR   WEARY    HOURS. 

in  real  godliness.  It  is  that  rueful,  re- 
pentant, self-accusing  temper  which  is 
always  looking  back,  and  microscopical- 
ly observing  how  that  which  is  done 
might  have  been  better  done.  Some- 
thing  of  this  we  ought  to  have.  A 
Christian  ought  to  feel  always  that  he 
has  partially  failed,  but  that  ought  not 
to  be  the  only  feeling.  Faith  ought 
ever  to  be  a  sanguine,  cheerful  thing, 
and  perhaps  in  practical  life  we  could 
not  give  a  better  account  of  faith  than 
by  saying  that  it  is,  amid  much  failure, 
having  the  heart  to  try  again.  Our  best 
deeds  are  marked  by  iinj^erfection  ;  but 
if  they  really  were  our  best,  we  should 
"  forget  the  things  that  are  behind." 
We  shall   do   better   next  time. 

Oh  !  we  want  every  thing  that  is  hope- 
ful and  encouraging  for  our  work :  for 
God  knows  it  is  not  an  easy  one.  And 
therefore  it  is  that  the  Gospel  comes  to 
the  guiltiest  of  us  all  at  the  very  outset 
with  the  inspiring  news  of  pardon. 


THOUGHTS   FOR   WEARY    HOURS.      67 

You  remember  how  Christ  treated 
sin :  sin  of  oppression  and  hypocrisy 
indignantly,  but  sin  of  frailty  —  "  Hath 
no  man  condemned  thee  ?"  "  No  man, 
Lord."  *'  Neither  do  I  condemn  thee  ; 
go,  and  sin  no  more."  As  if  He  would 
bid  us  think  more  of  what  we  may  be, 
than  what  we  have  been. 

There  was  the  wisdom  of  life  in  the 
power  with  which  the  widow  of  Tekoah 
pleaded  for  tlie  restoration  of  Absalom 
from  banishment  from  before  David. 
Absalom  had  slain  his  brother  Amnon. 
Well,  Amnon  was  dead  before  his  time, 
but  the  severity  of  revenge  could  never 
bring  him  back  again.  "  We  must  all 
die,"  said  the  wise  woman,  *'  and  are  as 
water  spilt  upon  the  ground,  which  can 
not  be  gathered  up  again." 

Christian  brethren,  do  not  stop  to 
weep  over  spilt  water.  Forget  your 
guilt,  and  wait  to  see  what  eternity  has 
to  say  to  it.  You  have  other  work  to 
do  now. 


C8        THOUGHTS    FOK   WEARY    HOURS. 

L. 

DISTKUST   AND   INGKATITUDE. 

If  we  lead  a  life  of  discontent  and  re- 
pining at  our  life-burdens,  what  will  we 
feel  when  death  conies,  and  we  find  that 
it  was  Mercy  which  loosened  every  tie 
to  earth,  making  us  glad  and  thankful 
to  approach  the  home  of  pardoned 
spirits  ?  How  bitter  will  be  our  regrets, 
our  self-accusations,  our  shame  for  previ- 
ously mistrusting  the  infinite  love  of 
God  !  Surely  the  state  of  one  who  be- 
gins to  trust  entirely  only  because  the 
veil  is  being  withdrawn,  will  have  its 
anguish.  Have  you  ever  felt  the  tide  of 
self-reproach  that  sets  in  upon  the  heart 
when  some  great  proof  of  a  friend's  dis- 
trusted affection  has  put  your  doubts  to 
shame  ?  Have  you  known  the  pang  of 
remorse  for  having  waited  to  be  afiec- 
tionate,  grateful,  and  confiding  till  the 
time  for  sho\ving  a  noble  trust  in  your 
friend  had  quite  passed  by  ?     Such  keen 


THOUGHTS    FOR   WEARY   HOURS.       69 

remorse  as  this,  in  far  greater  measure, 
is  wliat  I  suppose  we  all  shall  feel,  even 
after  a  humble  Christian  life,  whenever 
the  close  of  earthly  trial  brings  with  it 
the  just  expectation  of  eternal  glory. 
How  may  we  then  long  to  have  again 
some  of  our  unprized,  joyless  days  in 
which  to  prove,  with  warmer  zeal,  our 
love,  and  loyalty,  and  devotion  to  the 
Saviour  who  gives  us  the  victory! 

If  your  days  are  weary  and  joyless 
now,  look  on  to  that  day  which  hastens 
toicards  you^  when,  if  you  are  His,  He 
will  wipe  away  all  tears  ;  when  you  will 
then  see  that  in  the  whole  course  of  your 
pilgrimage  on  earth  God  did  not  do 
without  cause,  all  that  He  has  done  in 
it.  He  did  not  cause  you  to  shed  one 
needless  tear. 

Ah !  faith  is  weak  now,  but  the  time 
will  come  when,  looking  back  upon  the 
scene  of  our  probation,  we  shall  say, 
with  astonishment  at  our  past  ingrati- 
tude :    "  What   could    have   been   done 


70       THOUGHTS    FOR   WEARY    HOURS. 

more  for  ns  tliat  lie  liath  not  done  ? 
How  could  our  eternal  welfare  have 
been  better  secured  ?  Pain,  and  sorrow, 
and  disappointment,  have  done  more  for 
us  than  joy  and  happiness  ever  did." 

LI. 

"MY     TIMES     ARE     IN     THY     HAND." 
Father,  I  know  that  all  my  life 

Is  portioned  out  for  me, 
And  the  changes  that  are  sure  to  come 

I  do  not  fear  to  see  ; 
But  I  ask  Thee  for  a  present  mind, 

Intent  on  pleasing  Thee. 

I  ask  Thee  for  a  thoughtful  love. 
Through  constant  watching,  wise, 

To  meet  the  glad  with  joyful  smiles, 
And  to  wipe  the  weeping  eyes ; 

And  a  heart  at  leisure  from  itself, 
To  soothe  and  sympathize. 

I  would  not  have  the  restless  will 

That  hurries  to  and  fro. 
Seeking  for  some  great  thing  to  do, 

Or  secret  thing  to  know  ; 
I  would  be  treated  as  a  child, 

And  guided  where  I  go. 


THOUGHTS   FOR   WEARY    HOURS.       1l 

Wherever  in  the  world  I  am, 

In  whatsoe'er  estate, 
I  have  a  fellowship  with  hearts 

To  keep  and  cultivate  ^ 
And  a  work  of  lowly  love  to  do 

For  the  Lord  on  whom  I  wait. 

So  I  ask  Thee  for  the  daily  strength 

To  none  that  ask  denied, 
And  a  mind  to  blend  with  outward  life 

While  keeping  at  Thy  side  ; 
Content  to  fill  a  little  space, 

If  Thou  be  glorified. 

And  if  some  things  I  do  not  ask 

In  my  cup  of  blessing  be, 
I  would  have  my  spirit  filled  the  more 

With  grateful  love  to  Thee  ; 
More  careful  not  to  serve  Thee  trnicfi 

But  to  please  Thee  pcrfectl)/. 

There  are  briars  besetting  every  path. 

That  call  for  patient  care  ; 
There  is  a  cross  in  every  lot. 

And  an  earnest  need  for  prayer ; 
But  a  lowly  heart,  that  leans  on  Thee 

Is  happy  anywhere. 

In  a  service  which  Thy  will  appoints 
There  are  no  bonds  for  me, 


72   THOUGHTS  FOR  WEARY  HOURS. 

For  my  inmost  heart  is  taught  the  truth 
That  makes  Thy  children /ree, 

And  a  life  of  self-renouncing  love 
Is  a  life  of  liberty. 


LH. 

"DO  ALL    TO    THE    GLORY    OF    GOD." 

By  the  simple  intention  of  doing  all 
things,  whether  little  or  great,  to  the 
Lord.  And  from  love  to  Him,  even  the 
smallest  things  become  important,  and 
earth  is  tnrned  into  gold.  The  picking 
up  of  a  straw  with  an  intention  to  please 
God,  is  of  greater  value  than  the  re- 
moval of  mountains  without  such  inten- 
tion. 

LIII. 

"YE    HAVE    DONE    IT    UNTO    ME." 

There  is  a  class  of  texts  in  Scripture 
which  plainly  teach  that  tlie  privilege  of 
personal  administration  to  Christ  was 
not  limited  to  the  generation  that  lived 


THOUGHTS   FOE   WEARY    11  CUES.       V3 

in  Judea  eighteen  centuries  ago,  hut 
that  whatever  act  of  kindness  and  liber- 
ality you  do,  with  a  desire  to  please  and 
honor  Him,  it  is,  in  reality  and  effect, 
the  same  as  if  you  had  done  it  to  Him 
personally.  In  describing,  for  instance, 
the  awards  of  final  judgment,  our  Sa- 
viour represents  Himself  as  saying  to 
certain  persons :  "  I  was  a  hungered,  and 
ye  gave  me  meat ;  I  was  thirsty,  and  ye 
gave  me  drink,"  etc.  If  He  had  left 
these  words  without  further  explanation, 
we  might  in  our  unbelief  be  tempted  to 
sui:)pose  that  they  were  not  meant  for  all 
believers  to  the  end  of  time,  but  only 
to  those  to  whom  they  were  then  ad- 
dressed. 

LIV. 

"SHE    HATH    DONE    WHAT    SHE 
COULD." 

Common  happiness  is  sustained,  not 
by  great  exertions  which  are  in  the 
power  of  a  few,  and  happen   scarcely 


li       THOUGHTS   FOR   WEARY   HOURS. 

even  to  them,  but  by  great  numbers 
doing  every  one  a  little;  every  one 
something  in  his  particular  province, 
to  his  particular  neighborhood.  This  is 
the  way  in  which  Providence  intended 
society  to  be  carried  on,  and  benevo- 
lence to  be  exercised. 

LV. 

RETROSPECTION. 

Where  am  I  to-day  in  the  course  of 
this  earthly  pilgrimage?  Do  I  go  on 
daily  in  paths  of  holiness  and  peace? 
Can  I  believe  myself  humbler,  and  liolier, 
and  happier  to-day  than  I  was  this  time 
last  year  ?  Has  any  bud  become  a  blos- 
som, has  any  blossom  turned  to  fruit  ? 
I  can  only  tremble  and  weep  as  I  in- 
quire. Ah  !  it  is  not  for  me  to  say  that 
I  have  advanced  in  holiness.  It  is  only 
for  me  to  seek  to  do  so,  to  press  for- 
ward. 

O  Lord !  "  I  count  not  myself  to  have 
apprehended."    Teach  me  to  reach  forth 


THOUGHTS   FOR   WEARY    HOURS.       15 

to  those  things  which  are  before  me  ;  to 
press  towards  the  mark  for  the  prize  of 
the  high  calling  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus. 
My  sinfulness  is  my  oic?i  and  his  who  is 
the  enemy  to  all  human  souls.  My  right- 
eousness I  would  not  have  it  my  own, 
even  if  that  were  possible.  Let  it  be 
felt  deeply  by  me  that  it  is  of  Thee,  my 
Saviour.  Oh !  bring  me  more  and  more 
under  the  guidance  of  that  power  which 
worketh  in  Thy  children  botli  to  will 
and  to  do  of  Thy  good  pleasure.  Every 
day  teach  me  to  pray  for  a  clean  heart. 
Our  outward  man  requires  daily  wash- 
ings as  it  becomes  unclean  and  offensive 
even  to  ourselves,  and  can  the  inward 
man  go  on  day  after  day  without  need- 
ing its  daily  cleansings  ?  Oh !  sanctify 
me,  purify  me,  my  Saviour,  with  Thy 
Holy  Spirit ! 

"  All  that  I  was — my  sin,  my  guilt, 

My  death  was  all  my  own ; 
All  that  I  am,  I  owe  to  Thee, 

My  gracious  God,  alone." 


1Q       THOUGHTS    FOR   WEARY    HOURS. 

LYI. 

•«  NEARER,    MY    GOD,    TO    THEE." 

It  is  the  work  of  a  long  life  to  become 
a  Christian.  Many,  oh !  many  a  timo 
are  we  tempted  to  say,  "  I  make  no  pro- 
gress at  all.  'Tis  only  failure  after  fail- 
ure ;  nothing  grows."  Now  look  at  the 
sea  when  the  flood  is  coming  in.  Go 
and  stand  by  the  sea-beach,  and  you  ^\'ill 
think  that  the  ceaseless  flux  and  reflux  is 
but  retrogression  equal  to  the  advance. 
But  look  again  in  an  hour's  time,  and 
the  whole  ocean  has  advanced.  Every 
advance  has  been  beyond  the  last,  and 
every  retrograde  movement  has  been  an 
imperceptible  trifle  less  than  the  last. 
This  is  p7'0(/ress  to  be  estimated  at  the 
end  of  hours,  not  minutes.  And  this  is 
Christicm  progress.  Many  a  fluctuation, 
many  a  backward  motion,  with  a  rush  at 
times  so  vehement  that  all  seems  lost. 
But  if  the  eternal  work  be  real,  every 
failure  has  been  a  real  gain,  and  the  next 


THOUGHTS   FOR   WEARY    HOURS.       77 

does  not  carry  us  so  far  back  as  we  were 
before.  Every  advance  is  a  real  gain, 
and  part  of  it  is  never  lost.  Both  when 
we  advance  and  when  we  fail,  we  gain. 
We  are  nearer  to  God  than  we  were. 
The  flood  of  spirit-life  has  carried  ns  up 
higher  on  the  everlasting  shores,  where 
the  waves  of  life  beat  no  more,  and  its 
fluctuations  end,  and  all  is  safe  at  last. 
"This  is  the  faith  and  patience  of  the 
saints." 

LYn. 

"SLEEP    ON    NOTV.'* 

There  is  a  day  in  our  future  lives 
when  our  time  will  be  counted  not  by 
years,  nor  by  months,  nor  yet  by  hours, 
but  by  minutes — the  day  when  unmistak- 
able symptoms  shall  announce  that  the 
messengers  of  death  have  come  to  take 
us.  That  startling  moment  will  come 
which  it  is  in  vain  to  attempt  to  realize 
now,  when  it  will  be  felt  that  it  is  all 
over   at  last — that  our  chance  and  our 


78       THOUGHTS   FOR   WEARY    HOURS. 

trial  are  past.  The  moment  that  we 
have  tried  to  think  of,  shrunk  from,  put 
away  from  us,  here  it  is,  going  too,  like 
all  other  moments  that  have  gone  before 
it.  And  then,  with  eyes  unsealed  at 
last,  you  look  back  on  the  life  which  is 
gone  by. 

There  is  no  mistake  about  it.  There 
it  is,  a  sleep,  a  most  palpable  sleejD — self- 
indulged  unconsciousness  of  high  desti- 
nies, and  God,  and  Christ.  A  sleep  when 
Christ  was  calling  out  to  you  to  watch 
with  Him  one  hour — a  sleep  when  there 
was  something  to  be  done  —  a  sleep 
broken,  it  may  be,  once  or  twice,  by  rest- 
less dreams,  and  by  a  voice  of  truth 
which  looidd  make  itself  heard  at  times, 
but  still  a  sleep  which  was  only  rocked 
into  deeper  stillness  by  interruption. 
And  now,  from  the  undone  eternity,  the 
boom  of  whose  waves  is  distinctly  audi- 
ble upon  your  soul,  there  comes  the  same 
voice  again — a  solemn,  sad  voice — but 
no  longer  the  same   word,  "  Watch  :'* 


THOUGHTS    FOR   WEARY    HOURS.       19 

Other  words  altogether — "  You  may  go 
to  sleep."  It  is  too  late.  There  is  no 
science  in  earth  or  heaven  to  recall  time 
that  has  once  fled. 

Lvni. 

THROUGH    DEATH    TO    LIFE. 

"  He  that  liveth  and  believeth  in  Me 
shall  never  die."  How  mucb»  happier 
would  Christians  be,  did  they  realize 
more  vividly  the  great  truths  made 
known  to  them  in  the  Gospel.  Christ 
came  to  "  destroy  death  and  him  that 
hath  the  power  of  death,  that  is,  the 
devil ;  and  to  deliver  them  who,  through 
fear  of  death,  were  all  their  lifetime 
subject  to  bondage."  How  very  seldom 
is  death,  as  such,  spoken  of  in  the  New 
Testament.  The  writers  seem  to  regard 
it  as  annihilated  in  the  case  of  the  be- 
liever. We  live  here  sorrounded  by 
many  mercies,  but  exposed  to  many  sor- 
rows, and  conscious  of  much  imperfec- 
tion ;  and  surely  that  great  event  in  our 


80        THOUGHTS    FOR   WEARY    HOURS. 

history  which  transports  us  to  the  full 
2)Ossession  of  the  promised  inheritance 
where  no  element  of  grief  shall  mingle 
in  the  cup  of  gladness  ;  where  no  lin- 
gering corruption  shall  interfere  with 
our  obedience,  and  defile  our  worship; 
where  no  temptation  shall  ever  demand 
vigilance  and  conflict ;  where  no  weari- 
ness shal^suspend  our  service,  but  cease- 
less activity  shall  be  the  rapture  of  re- 
pose, and  Avhere  death  being  forever  ex- 
cluded, eternity  will  be  stamped  on 
every  enjoyment.  Surely  the  event  which 
introduces  us  to  such  a  state  of  being 
can  not  correctly  be  designated  death. 
No,  it  is  rather  life.  The  dead  are  those 
who  are  left  behind,  not  those  who  thus 
depart,  and  the  moment  of  dissolution  is 
the  birth  of  the  soul. 

"  It  is  not  death  to  die, 

To  leave  this  weary  road, 
And  'midst  the  brotherhood  on  high. 

To  be  at  home  with  God." 


THOUGHTS   FOR   WEARY    HOURS.      81 

/.  LIX. 

'the  "wakm  hand  of  sympathy. 
"  He  can  he  touchedP  Till  we  have 
reflected  on  it,  Ave  are  scarcely  aware 
how  much  the  sura  of  human  happiness 
in  the  world  is  indebted  to  this  one  feel- 
ing—  sympathy.  We  get  cheerfulness 
and  vigor,  we  scarcely  know  how  or 
when,  from  mere  association  with  our 
fellow-men,  and  fi-om  the  looks  reflected 
on  us  of  gladness  and  enjoyment.  We 
catch  inspiration  and  power  to  go  on, 
from  human  presence  and  from  cheerful 
looks.  The  workman  works  with  added 
energy  from  having  others  by.  The  full 
family  circle  has  a  strength  and  a  life 
peculiarly  its  own.  The  substantial  good 
and  the  efl^ectual  relief  which  men  extend 
to  one  is  trifling.  It  is  not  by  those, 
but  by  something  far  less  costly,  that  the 
work  is  done.  God  has  insured  it  by  a 
much  more  simple  machinery.  He  has 
given   to  the  weakest  and   the   poorest 


82        THOUGHTS    FOK    WEARY   HOURS. 

power  to  contribute  largely  to  the  com- 
mon stock  of  gladness.  The  child's 
smile  and  laugh  are  mighty  powers  in 
this  world.  When  bereavement  has  left 
you  desolate,  what  substantial  benefit  is 
there  which  makes  condolence  accepta- 
ble ?  It  can  not  replace  the  loved  ones 
you  have  lost.  It  can  bestow  upon  you 
nothing  permanent.  But  a  warm  hand 
has  touched  yours,  and  its  thrill  told 
you  that  there  was  a  living  response 
there  to  your  emotion.  One  look,  one 
human  sigh,  has  done  more  for  you  than 
the  costliest  present  could  convey. 

LX. 

"I    SHALL    BE    SATISriED." 

Not  here !    not  here !    not  where  the   sparkling 
waters 

Fade  into  mocking  sands  as  we  draw  near, 
Where  in  the  wilderness  each  footstep  falters, 

"  I  shall  be  satisfied  " — oh  !  not  here. 

Not  here,  where  all  the  dreams  of  bliss  deceive  us; 
Where  the  worn  spirit  never  gains  its  goal ; 


THOUGHTS   FOR   WEARY    HOURS.       83 

Where  haunted  ever  by  the  thoughts  that  grieve  U3, 
Across  us  floods  of  bitter  memory  roll. 

There  is  land  where  every  pulse  is  thrilling 

With  rapture  earth's  sojourners  may  not  know ; 

Where  heaven's  repose  the  weary  heart  is  thrilling  ; 
And  peacefully  life's  time-tossed  currents  flow. 

Far  out  of  sight,  while  yet  the  flesh  enfolds  us, 
Lies  the  fair  country  where  our  hearts  abide  ; 

And  of  its  bliss  is  naught  more  wondrous  told  us. 
Than  these  few  words:  "  I  shall  be  satisfied." 

Satisfied !  satisfied  !     The  spirit's  yearning 
For  sweet  companionship  with  kindred  minds, 

The  silent  love  that  here  meets  no  returning, 
The  inspiration  which  no  language  finds — 

Shall  they  be  satisfied  ?     The  soul's  vague  longing, 
The  aching  void  which  nothing  earthly  fills  ? 

Oh  !  what  desires  upon  my  soul  are  thronging, 
As  I  look  upward  to  the  heavenly  hills  ! 

Thither  my  weak  and  weary  steps  are  tending. 

Saviour  and  Lord !  with  Thy  frail  child  abide  ; 
Guide  me  towards  home,  where,  all  my  wandering 
ending, 

I  shall  see  Thee,  and  ^' shall  he  satisfied  P^ 


84        THOUGHTS   FOR    WEARY   HOURS. 

LXT. 

"  THIS  IS  NOT  YOUR  REST." 
*' Arise  and  depart,  for  this  is  not 
yonr  rest " — it  is  written  on  every  eartli- 
ly  thing.  The  moment  we  phice  our 
wishes  and  affections  on  things  of  the 
earth,  the  moment  we  come  to  consider 
our  scheme  of  living  satisfactory,  our 
schedule  of  performances  perfect,  some 
unexpected  resolution  breaks  in  like  a 
whirlwind  to  disturb  this  complacency, 
and  set  us  into  larger  and  perhaps  plain- 
er rooms,  where  we  can  drink  in  more 
light  and  gain  a  deeper  wisdom  if  we 
will. 

LXII. 

A    TOUCHSTONE. 

When  the  heart  is  really  made  new, 
and  is  filled  with  all  the  holy  life  of  its 
Lord,  it  matters  nothnig  what  the  out- 
ward place  or  scenery  may  be.  Then 
there  is  no  restless  thirst  for  novelty,  no 
contempt  or  complaint  of  commonplace 


THOUGHTS   FOR   WEARY    HOURS.       85 

task-work.  Then,  even  in  the  new  coun- 
try, the  old  and  familiar  has  to  be  taken 
back.  There  is  much  in  common  be- 
tween the  forms  of  the  old  life  and  the 
forms  of  the  new.  The  same  people 
have  to  be  met,  and  served,  and  endur- 
ed. The  same  body  has  to  be  fed,  cloth- 
ed, exercised,  and  kept  under.  The 
same  crosses  of  temper,  self  -  disgust, 
baffled  aspiration  have  to  be  borne.  iN'o 
emigration  transports  us  out  of  the  reach 
of  mortal  annoyance  and  infirmity.  If 
the  old  duties  look  small,  the  old  labors 
irksome,  and  the  old  places  incapable  of 
religious  grandeur,  it  is  probably  a  sign 
that  the  new  heart  is  not  really  in  us, 
but  only  some  specious  and  vain  imag- 
ination instead.  It  is  rest  we  are  seek- 
ing, then  ;  and  that  rest  is  not  here.  We 
are  breaking  from  Providence.  After 
His  high  communion  in  the  temple, 
Jesus,  the  Lord  of  souls,  went  back  to 
Xazareth,  content  with  the  companion- 
ship of  his  childhood  for  eighteen  years 


86        THOUGHTS   FOR   WEARY    HOURS. 

more,  cheerful  with  a  vilhxge  reputation, 
and  subject  to  Joseph  and  Mary. 

LXIII. 

"SHALL    NEVER    THIRST." 

Ox  all  the  world's  fountains,  drink  of 
them  as  you  may,  thirst  again  is  written. 
Of  the  world's  mountains,  climb  them  as 
you  may,  you  will  never  say,  I  have 
reached  the  coveted  summit.  It  is 
enough.  Men  go  sighing  on,  drinking 
their  rivers  of  pleasure,  and  climbing 
their  mountains  of  vanity.  They  feel, 
all  the  while,  some  undefined,  inarticu- 
late, nameless  longing  after  a  satisfying 
good ;  but  it  is  a  miserable  travesty  to 
say  that  it  has  been  found,  or  can  be 
found  in  any  thing  here.  "  Who  will 
show  us  any  good?^''  Avill  still  be  the  cry 
of  the  groping  seeker,  till  he  has  learned 
to  say :  "  Lorcl^  lift  Thou  upon  me  the 
light  of  Thy  countenance.^'' 


THOUGHTS   FOR    WEARY    HOURS.       87 

LXIV. 

"JUST    AS    I    AM." 

Let  it  be  yours  to  say  :  Lord,  I  come  ! 
Thou  art  all  I  need,  all  I  require  in  sick- 
ness and  in  health,  in  joy  and  in  sorrow, 
in  time  and  through  eternity.  And  when 
death  is  sealing  my  eyes,  and  the  rush 
of  darkness  is  coming  over  my  spirit, 
even  then  will  I  take  up  the  old  exile 
strain — the  great  sigh  of  weary  human- 
ity— and  blend  its  notes  with  the  song 
of  heaven :  *'  As  the  hart  panteth  after 
the  water  brooks,  so  panteth  my  soul 
after  Thee,  O  God !" 

LXV. 

A    HEAVENLY    EMBLEM. 

Remember,  God  does  not  say  that 
"  good  work "  is  never  to  be  impeded. 
He  has  never  given  promise  in  Scripture 
of  an  unclouded  day,  uninterrupted  sun- 
shine, a  waveless,  stormless  sea.  No ; 
*'  the    mornins:    without   clouds "    is    a 


88        TUOUGIITS    FOR    WEAKY    HOUES. 

heavenly  emblem.  The  earthly  one  is 
"  a  day,  in  which  the  light  shall  neither 
be  clear  nor  dark."  (Zech.  14:6.)  But 
it  is  written  :  "  At  evening  time  it  shall 
be  light."  The  sun  may  wade  all  day 
through  murky  clouds,  but  he  will  pil- 
low his  head  at  night  on  a  couch  of  ver- 
milion and  gold 

LXVI. 

"NONE    OF    US    LIVETH    UNTO    HIM- 
SELF." 

No  stream  from  its  source 

Flows  seaward,  how  lonely  soever  its  course, 

But  what  some  land  is  gladdened.     No  star  ever 

rose 
And  set,  without  influence  somewhere.     Who  knows 
What  earth  needs  from  earth's  lowest  creature  ? 

No  life 
Can  be  pure  in  its  purpose  and  strong  in  its  strife, 
And  all  life  not  be  purer  and  stronger  thereby. 
The  spirits  of  just  men  made  perfect  on  high 
The  army  of  martyrs  who  stand  by  the  throne 
And  gaze  into  the  face  that  makes  glorious  their 


THOUGHTS  FOR  WEAKY  HOURS.   89 

Know  this  surely  at  last.  Honest  love,  honest  sor- 
row, 

Honest  work  for  the  day,  honest  hope  for  the  mor- 
row, 

Are  these  worth  nothing  more  than  the  hand  they 
make  weary, 

The  heart  they  have  saddened,  the  life  they  leave 
dreary  ? 

Hush  !  the  sevenfold  heavens  to  the  voice  of  the 
Spirit 

Echo,  "  He  that  o'ercometh,  shall  all  things  in- 
herit." 

LXYII. 

"WORK    WHILE    THE     DAY     LASTS." 

The  sun  sets,  the  autumn  fades,  life 
hastens  with  us  all.  But  we  stand  yet 
in  our  Master's  vineyard.  All  the  days 
of  our  aj^pointed  time  let  us  labor  righte- 
ously, and  wait  and  pray  till  our  change 
comes,  that  we  may  change  only  from 
virtue  to  virtue,  from  faitli  to  faith,  and 
thus  from  glory  to  glory! 

What  have  I  yet  to  do  ? 
Day  weareth  on, 


90   THOUGHTS  FOR  WEARY  HOURS. 

Flowers,  that  opening  new, 
Smiled  through  the  morning  dew, 
Droop  in  the  sun. 

'Neath  the  noon's  searching  glare 

Fainting  I  stand ; 
Still  is  the  sultry  air, 
Silentness  everywhere 

Through  the  hot  land. 

Yet  must  I  labor  still 

All  the  day  through, 
Striving  with  earnest  will 
Patient  my  place  to  fill, 

My  work  to  do. 

Long  though  my  task  may  be, 

Cometh  the  end, 
God  'tis  that  helpeth  me  ; 
This  is  the  work,  and  He 

New  strength  will  lend. 

He  will  direct  my  feet, 

Strengthen  my  hand, 
Give  me  my  portion  meet. 
Firm  in  His  promise  sweet, 

Trusting  I  stand. 

Up,  then,  to  work  again  I 
God's  word  is  given, 


THOUGHTS   FOR    WEARY    HOURS,       91 

That  none  shall  sow  in  vain, 
But  find  His  ripened  grain 
Garnered  in  heaven. 

Longer  the  shadows  fiill — 

Night  conieth  on  ; 
Low  voices  softly  call 
"  Come,  here  is  rest  for  all ; 

Labor  is  done." 


LXYIIL 

THE     BELIEVER'S     CHARM. 

*  "To  him  that  overcometh  will  I 
give  a  white  stone,  and  in  the  stone  a 
new  name  written,  which  no  man  know- 

*  It  was  an  ancient  custom  connected  with  the 
public  games,  that  the  victor,  "  he  that  overcom- 
eth," among  other  honors,  was  presented  with  a 
white  stone — tessera — with  his  name  inscribed  on  it. 
Such  a  stone  was  often  of  two  parts,  each  bearing 
a  portion  of  the  name,  and  was  thus  used  as  a  talis- 
man or  sacred  token  between  friends  or  families. 
None  but  the  two  parts  made  for  each  other  com- 
pleted the  device.  Each,  whenever  presented,  in 
whatever  part  of  the  world,  would  instantly  match 


92        THOUGHTS   FOR    WEARY   HOURS. 

eth  saving  he  that  receiveth  it."  (Rev. 
2  :  IV.)  He  that  overcoraeth — every  vic- 
torious soul  prevailing  by  faith  and 
righteousness  in  the  long  and  patient 
battle  of  life — shall  have  secret  satisftic- 
tions  springing  up  in  his  heart,  known 
only  between  himself  and  his  Lord. 

They  will  not  consist  in  outward  ap- 
plauses, in  visible  successes,  in  any 
worldly  compensation  whatever.  The 
chief  of  them  all  will  be  the  silent  assur- 
ances of  His  personal  affection,  who  is 
the  purest,  highest,  holiest.  The  testi- 
mony of  His  friendship  will  be  the  best 
reward.  The  token  of  His  favor  will  be 
the  inestimable  good. 

into  its  place,  and  constitute  the  bearer's  passport 
to  kindness  and  favor  with  the  liindred  of  its  fel- 
low's owner.  The  original  cause  or  incidents  of 
the  alliance,  were  the  secrets  hidden  by  the  em- 
blem, hidden  to  all  but  the  holders.  And  the  rights 
of  hospitality  secured  by  this  badge,  seem  to  be  the 
occasion  of  that  other  allusion  in  the  same  verse  to 
the  "  hidden  manna,"  thus  filling  out  the  metaphor. 


THOUGHTS   FOR   WEARY    HOURS.       93 

So  much  light  docs  advancing  excel- 
lence always  cast  on  old  forms  of  truth — 
a  deeper  life  ever  illuminating  even 
familiar  oracles — that  the  very  name  of 
Christ  shall  have  a  new  meaning.  It 
shall  be  a  new  name.  It  shall  have  a 
personal  charm  and  preciousness  to  each 
several  believer.  Xone  shall  know  it 
as  he  knoweth  it  that  receiveth  it.  No 
man  ever  knows  the  meaning  of  our 
deeper  experiences,  or  of  the  words  that 
express  them,  as  we  know  them  our- 
selves. Just  as  the  Almighty  said  to 
the  great  Jewish  leader  and  lawgiver 
when  he  declared  to  him  His  memorial 
name,  "  By  that  name  thy  fathers  did 
not  know  me,"  though  they  had  used 
that  name  for  hundreds  of  years — mean- 
ing that  in  their  less  luminous  state  and 
backward  education,  they  did  not  com- 
prehend or  realize  what  the  name  con- 
tained— so,  to  each  growing  nature  of 
man,  the  significance  of  every  sacred 
word  gains  depth  and  clearness  at  every 


94        THOUGHTS    FOR   WEARY   HOURS. 

Step  of  his  way.  What  was  dark  to  un- 
belief was  briglit  to  faith.  What  was 
perplexing  to  the  beginner  in  Christian 
living  is  simple  and  radiant  if  he  per- 
severes. 

The  very  name  of  the  Source  and 
Spring  of  the  world's  only  perfect  spir 
itual  illumination,  Christ,  has  no  attrac- 
tion and  no  interest  to  those  whose 
daily  habit  is  alien  from  Him.  But  let 
any  walk  in  His  way,  adopt  His  spirit,  be 
joined  to  His  society,  and  then  another 
feeling  shall  invest  that  name,  give  it 
beauty,  and  open  its  gracious  meaning, 
and  make  it  a  name  above  every  name — 
a  new  name,  to  which  every  knee  must 
bow — known  only  to  him  that  reoeiv- 
eth  it. 

"  0  that  my  Saviour  would  impart 
Some  token  of  His  love, 
And  comfort  my  desponding  heart, 
And  make  it  mount  above." 


THOUGHTS    FOR   WEARY   HOURS.      95 


LXIX. 

"COULD     YE     NOT    "WATCH    "WITH 
ME    ONE    HOUR?" 

The  night  is  dark  ;  behold  the  shade  was  deeper 

In  the  old  garden  of  Gethsemane, 
When  that  calm  voice  awoke  the  weary  sleeper — 

*'  Could' st  thou  not  watch  one  hour  alone  with 
me?" 

0  thou  so  weary  of  thy  self-denials  ! 

And  so  impatient  of  thy  little  cross, 
Is  it  so  hard  to  bear  thy  daily  trials, 

To  count  all  earthly  things  a  gainful  loss  ? 

What  if  thou  always  suffer  tribulation, 
And  if  thy  Christian  warfare  never  cease  ; 

The  gaining  of  the  greater  habitation 
Shall  gather  thee  to  everlasting  peace. 

But  here  we  all  must  suffer,  walking  lonely 
The  path  that  Jesus  once  Himself  hath  gone  ; 

Watch  thou  in  patience  through  this  hour  only. 
This  one  dark  hour  before  the  eternal  dawn. 

The  captive  oar  may  pause  upon  the  galley, 
The  soldier  sleep  beneath  his  plumed  crest, 

And  Peace  may  fold  her  wing  o'er  hill  and  valley, 
But  thou,  0  Christian  !  must  not  take  thy  rest. 


96        TIIOUGinS   FOR   WEARY    HOURS. 

Thou  must  walk  on,  liowevcr  man  upbraid  thee, 
With  Him  who  trod  the  wine-press  all  alone  ; 

Thou  wilt  not  find  one  human  hand  to  aid  thee, 
One  human  soul  to  comprehend  thine  own. 

Heed  not  the  images  forever  thronging 

From  out  the  foi-egone  life  thou  liv'st  no  more  ; 

Faint-hearted  mariner,  still  art  thou  longing 
For  the  dim  line  of  the  receding  shore  ? 

"Wilt  thou  find  rest  of  soul  in  thy  returning 
To  that  old  path  thou  hast  so  vainly  trod  ? 

Hast  thou  forgotten  all  thy  weary  yearning 
To  walk  among  the  children  of  thy  God  ? 

Faithful  and  steadfast  in  their  consecration. 
Living  by  that  high  faith  to  thee  so  dim, 

Declaring  before  God  their  dedication, 
So  far  from  thee,  because  so  near  to  Him. 

Canst  thou  forget  thy  Christian  superscription — 
"j5e7ioZ(/,  we  count  them  happy  which  endure  "  ? 

What  treasure  would'st  thou  in  the  land  Egyptian, 
Repass  the  stormy  water  to  secure  ? 

And  wilt  thou  yield  thy  sure  and  glorious  promise, 
For  the  poor  fleeting  joys  earth  can  afford  ? 

No  hand  can  take  away  the  treasure  from  us 
That  rests  within  the  keeping  of  the  Lord. 


TnOUGIITS   FOR   WEARY   HOURS.       97 

Poor  wandering  soul,  I  know  that  thou  art  seeking 
Some  easier  way,  as  all  have  sought  before, 

To  silence  the  reproachful  inward  speaking, 
Some  landward  path  into  an  island  shore  ! 

The  cross  is  heavy  in  thy  human  measure, 
The  way  is  narrow  for  thy  inward  pride, 

Thou  canst  not  lay  thine  intellectual  treasure 
At  the  low  footstool  of  the  Crucified. 

Oh  !  that  thy  faithless  soul  one  hour  only 

Would  comprehend  the  Christian's  perfect  life. 

Despised  with  Jesus,  sorrowful  and  lonely, 
Sit  calmly  looking  upward  in  its  strife. 

For  poverty  and  self-renunciation. 

Their  Father  yieldeth  back  a  thousand  fold  ; 

In  the  calm  stillness  of  regeneration, 
Cometh  a  joy  they  never  knew  of  old. 

In  meek  obedience  to  the  heavenly  Teacher 
Thy  weary  soul  can  only  find  its  peace. 

Seeking  no  aid  from  any  human  creature, 
Looking  to  God  alone  for  his  release. 

And  He  will  come  in  His  own  time  and  power. 
To  set  His  earnest-hearted  children  free  ; 

"Watch  only  through  this  dark  and  painful  hour. 
And  the  bright  morning  will  yet  break  for  thee. 


98        THOUGHTS   FOR    AVEARY    HOURS. 


//' 


LXX. 

ALONE  I    YET    NOT    ALONE. 

Each  one  knows  tliat  he  must  die 
alone.  How  few  realize  that,  for  the 
most  part,  it  is  God's  appointment  that 
each  one  should  live  alone  and  suffer 
alone.  Each  one  must  "bear  his  own 
burden,"  (Gal.  6  :  5,)  feel  his  own  incom- 
municable grief,  which  often  lies  like 
lead  upon  the  heart. 

Solitude  and  a  sense  of  isolation  are 
not  peculiar  to  sickness.  They  who  walk 
abroad  in  the  busy  world  have  their  own 
"  loneliness  of  heart,"  and  "  find  it  truly 
hard  to  bear." 

This  deep  weary  sense  of  isolation  is 
a  call  to  tlie  sick  to  sympathize  with, 
and  better  to  understand,  the  trials  of 
those  in  health.  There  is  in  every  heart 
more  or  less  craving  for  sympathy;  a 
restless  craving  in  those  who  have  not 
learned  where  to  turn  for  true  sympa- 


THOUGHTS   FOR   WEARY    HOURS.       99 

tliy,  and  that  One  only  and  only  One 
is  enough  to  satisfy  all  their  yearnings. 

There  are  few  who  do  not  think  it 
hard  that  their  lot  of  woe  is  not  more 
borne  by  others.  They  think  it  ought 
to  be  ;  they  expect  it ;  they  crave  for  it. 
They  cry  out  in  their  pangs  that  their 
lot  is  hard  and  peculiar ;  that  it  is  not 
so  with  others.  They  go  on  crying  till 
so  loud  and  constant  becomes  their 
voice,  that  they  do  not,  excej^t  occasion- 
ally, hear  "  the  still  small  voice"  Avhich 
is  speaking  to  them,  and  saying :  '•'' Listen 
to  ^6." 

When  they  do  listen,  it  tells  them 
that  their  lot  is  not  peculiar,  but  the 
common  lot  of  all ;  that  each  one  after 
his  own  manner  (or  rather  that  manner 
that  God  sees  fitted  to  his  character)  is 
living  alone — some  more,  some  less  so. 
That  there  is  a  meaning  in  it  all ;  an 
absolute  necessity.  That  those  who  do 
"  hear  the  rod  and  who  hath  appointed 
it "  then  cease  to  be  alone  in  their  lone- 


100     THOUGHTS   FOR   WEARY    HOURS. 

liness.  That  the  whole  end  is  to  drive 
them  away  from  creatures — from  them- 
selves, from  all  earthly  craving — and 
to  drive  them  to  seek  for  God  alone,  and 
to  dwell  in  Him. 

The  lesson  is  the  same  in  all  cases, 
but  there  are  different  ways  of  learning 
it.  The  path  in  which  each  man  walks 
is  untrodden  by  any  other.  He  can  not 
judge  of  its  roughness,  or  how  many 
thorns  there  may  be  in  it.  No  one  can 
fully  see  the  extent  and  details  of  the 
trial  which  another  is  called  to  bear. 
One  comes  near  and  says  words  of 
sympathy  for  one  part  of  the  trial ; 
another  for  some  other  part ;  a  third 
sees  no  trial  in  it  at  all ;  a  fourth  thinks 
it  must  be  much  less  trying  than  some 
other  form  of  suffering,  or  than  his  own. 
No  one  but  the  sufferer  sees  it  in  all  its 
bearings  and  forms  of  inward  suffering ; 
no  one  else  feels  the  acute  pain  of  heart, 
and  all  its  throbbings.  Each  one  leaves 
some    disappointment    behind,   or    else 


THOUGHTS   FOR   WEAKY    HOUES.    101 

makes  the  sufferer  say :  "  I  should  be 
quite  alone,  or  at  least  only  very  ini 
perfectly  understood,  if  I  had  my  fellow- 
sufferers  only  to  depend  on.  Each  one 
seems  Avrappcd  in  his  own  sorrow ;  his 
eyes  too  intently  fixed  on  it  to  see  mine, 
except  very  dimly.  I  must  '  appeal  to 
the  world  where  all  things  are  under- 
stood,' and  to  Him  who  '  weigheth  the 
spirits.' " 

The  weight  of  life,  the  burden  of  do- 
ing, are  hard  to  bear;  still  more  so, 
perhaps,  when  borne  in  conjunction  with 
sickness,  the  weary  longing  for  work ; 
the  toilsome  days  which  all  seem  spent 
for  self,  and  in  which  you  seem  never  to 
do  any  thing  for  others,  but  merely  to 
add  very  much  to  their  burdens ;  and 
you  grow  sadder  and  more  hopeless  as 
time  goes  on  and  brings  no  relief. 

As  each  morning  dawns,  it  seems  but 
to  open  another  day  of  selfishness.  It 
seems  to  you  that  you  could  do  some- 
thing,   v'Jiat  you   can  not  exactly  tell, 


102     THOUGHTS   FOR   WEARY    HOURS. 

where  to  tiivn  for  work  you  do  not 
know.  Your  friends,  perhaps,  think 
you  unfit  for  any  exertion.  In  their 
kindness,  as  they  suppose,  they  do  every 
tiling  for  you:  remove  all  work  from 
you  ;  tell  you  that  you  are  not  wanted  ; 
that  there  are  plenty  of  people  who  can 
supply  your  place.  They  mean  it  in 
true  kindness,  hut  you  do  not  see  it  so  ; 
you  think  that  if  they  would  only  find 
some  niche  for  you,  you  should  be  very 
thankful. 

That  thought  of  being  necessary  to  no 
one  is  part  of  your  weary  burden.  You 
can  not  truly  see  the  love  which  has 
led  your  friends  to  speak  and  act  thus. 

Wait  a  little.  Do  not  writhe  ;  lie  still. 
Do  not  say :  "  I  am  cut  oflT  from  work. 
There  is  nothing  left  for  me  to  do  ;  no 
place  to  fill  up."  If  it  be  so  at  pres- 
ent, it  may  not  always  be  so. 

Do  not  lose  the  blessing  of  your  pres- 
ent state,  in  reaching  after  something 
cither  future  or  imaginary.     Seek  to  find 


THOUGHTS   FOR   WEARY    HOURS.    103 

out  wlmt  are  your  present  duties;  at 
least,  there  are  some.  Do  not  ask  to 
have  your  world  enlarged  ;  do  your  pres- 
ent work.  You  may  help  and  be  a  great 
blessing  to  your  attendant,  even  if  you 
can  not  speak  much.  If  she  sees  you 
meek  and  i">atient,  submissive  to  your 
trials,  bearing  pain  patiently,  receiving 
the  various  circumstances  of  life  cheer- 
fully, not  murmuring  or  repining,  she 
may  learn  a  lesson  which  may  sink  deep 
into  her  heart,  and  bring  forth  fruit  an- 
other day. 

You  have  relative  duties,  also.  Per- 
haps you  have  parents,  or  brothers,  or 
sisters,  or  children  in  the  house  with  you. 
The  mere  receiving  them  cheerfully,  mak- 
ing them  feel  that  they  are  always  wel- 
come, that  you  are  ever  ready  to  bear 
their  burdens,  and  to  sympathize  with 
them,  to  share  their  joys  as  well  as  their 
sorrows,  may  make  your  sick-room  the 
"place  of  blessing  "  to  all  the  household. 

In  this    busy,  bustlhig    Avorld,  many 


104     THOUGHTS   FOR   WEAKY   ROUES. 

"  seek  some  place  of  refrevshment,"  where 
they  may  leave  behmd  them  the  jarring 
of  this  life,  and  draw  nearer  to  reality. 
Do  not  then  say  that  you  have  no  work, 
but  lie  still,  and  let  Ilini  "  work  in  you 
to  will  and  to  do  of  His  good  pleasure." 
Ask  Him  to  make  you  so  like  unto  Him- 
s elf,  that  others  may  "take  knowledge 
of  you  that  you  have  been  with  Jesus." 
Seek  to  comfort  others  with  "  the  com- 
fort wherewith  you  are  comforted  of 
God."  You  have  a  great  work  to  do,  to 
"  deny  yourself  and  worldly  lu«ts,"  and 
to  "  walk  humbly  with  God."  This  work 
is  "  laudable,  glorious,  and  honorable." 
Do  not  despise  it,  lest  in  so  doing  you  be 
"  found  replying  against  God  ;"  lest  you 
tempt  Him  to  withdraw  it  from  you. 

Besides,  even  if  it  were  true  that  you 
have  nothing  to  do— no  outward  work— 
you  have  one  stone  at  least  in  the  temple 
to  polish  and  keep  in  its  place.  This 
time  is  given  you  in  which  to  do  it. 
Look  on  it  as  a  time  of  preparation  for 


THOUGHTS   FOR  WEAET   HOURS.    105 

something,  although  you  know  not  for 
what :  it  may  be  for  life,  or  it  may  be  for 
death.  Do  not  pass  it  by  ;  do  not  waste  it 
in  murmuring,  or  by  crying  out  for  some 
change.  He  who  sees  your  heart  knows 
that  it  is  very  trying  to  you,  and  He  is 
very  "  pitiful  and  of  tender  mercy ;"  but 
He  sees  that  you  need  just  this  very  dis- 
cipline, and  He  will  give  you  no  other, 
until  this  has  done  the  work  for  which 
He  sent  it. 

Xever  forget  that  all  your  circum- 
stances, even  tlie  most  minute,  are  in  the 
hands  of  God.  Look  at  them  only  in 
this  way,  and  not  on  each  circumstance 
as  an  accident  which  may  be  removed. 
Receive  it  as  your  present  lot  —  as  the 
expression  of  the  will  of  God  toward 
you ;  and  then  you  will  find  that  as  it  is 
His  "  yoke,"  He  will  make  His  yoke  easy 
and  His  burden  light,  "  if  it  is  borne  in 
His  name  and  for  His  sake." 

If  any  other  lot  would  have  been 
equally  good  for  you,  if  any  other  disci- 


106     THOUGHTS   FOR   WEARY   HOURS. 

pVme  would  have  taught  you  as  much  of 
the  evil  of  your  own  heart,  or  of  the  love 
of  God,  dej^end  upon  it  He  would  have 
"given  you  the  lighter,  and  kept  back 
the  heavier."  Do  not  argue  with  the 
Tempter.  Do  not  let  him  persuade  you 
that  they  are  bad  circumstances,  unsuited 
to  you ;  but  say  at  once  :  "  Get  thee  be- 
hind me,  Satan.  God  placed  me  here. 
It  is  His  will.  God  is  love."  This  an- 
swer will  serve  for  every  lot  in  life,  for 
every  trial. 

LXXI. 

WISDOM   OF   THE    DIVINE    ECONOMY 

"  All  things  work  together  for  good  to 
them  that  love  God."  This  is  a  truth  of 
the  sweetest  and  holiest  import,  and  is 
daily  recurring  to  me;  for  how  many 
are  the  things  in  common  life  which,  in 
the  dictates  of  our  own  poor  wisdom,  we 
would  gladly  have  otherwise ! 

I  doubt  not  you  have  learned,  to  a 


THOUGHTS   FOR   WEAKY   HOURS.    107 

great  extent,  to  depend  on  God  day  by 
day  for  your  daily  bread.  This  lesson  I 
desire  to  learn.  How  sweet  it  is  to  be 
directed  from  hour  to  hour,  with  scarce 
a  ray  of  light  beyond!  The  darker  the 
future,  the  brighter  often  is  faith,  and 
the  more  firmly  do  we  rely  on  that 
Arm  which  can  never   fail. 

I  have  often  found  myself  attempting 
to  preserve  the  manna  till  morning,  but 
have  never  succeeded.  How  wise  is  the 
economy  of  Providence  and  the  economy 
of  grace  !  How  should  we  rejoice  that 
we  can  not  lay  up  stores  for  ourselves, 
either  of  wisdom  or  faith. 

Surely  it  is  good  to  commit  our  way 
wholly  unto  God,  without  fear  and  with- 
out compromise.  Then  the  pillar  of 
cloud  or  of  fire  will  go  before  us,  though 
we  may  not  always  be  able  to  recog- 
nize it. 

I  have  often  said  to  myself  that  if  there 
should  come  to  me  a  permanent  cause  for 
sadness,   cither  constitutional  or  other- 


108     THOUGHTS   FOR   WEARY   HOURS. 

wise,  I  must  just  as  resignedly  bear  it  as 
1  liave  carried  my  cheerful  tendencies. 
Yes,  be  willing  to  be  sad — nay,  subdued, 
rather ;  for  we  can  smile  through  tears. 
Let  the  tears  come,  if  they  must ;  they 
can  not  last  forever.  We  must  look 
sunward,  and  do  our  duty,  and  in 
God's  good  time  we  shall  walk  in  light. 

I  fear  I  shall  be  ashamed  of  myself, 
when,  an  inhabitant  of  the  other  life,  I 
look  back  upon  this,  and  see  that  I  was 
not  ready  and  willing  to  bear  the  seem- 
ing ills  I  could  not  cure.  Only  for  that 
little  time^  we  shall  say  to  ourselves,  and 
having  the  Infinite  Father  to  hold  our 
destiny  !  "  O  thou  of  little  fiiith,  where- 
fore didst  thou  doubt  ?" 

Heaven  keep  us  from  such  reproaches, 
when  the  clouds  of  our  short  pilgrimage 
have  passed,  and  we  see  face  to  face  the 
wisdom  of  the  way  by  Avhich  we  have 
been  led. 


THOUGHTS   FOK   WEaVKY   HOUES.    109 


LXXII. 

*'W1E1    ARE    SURE    THOU  KNOWEST 
ALL    THINGS." 

Thou  knowest,  Lord,  the  ■R'earmcss  and  sorrow 
Of  the  sad  heart  that  comes  to  Thee  for  rest ; 

Cares  of  to-day,  and  burdens  for  to-morrow, 
Blessings  implored  and  sins  to  be  confessed — 

I  come  before  Thee  at  Thy  gracious  word, 

And  lay  them  at  Thy  feet.     Thou  knowest,  Lord. 

Thou  knowest  all  the  past.     How  long  and  blindly 
On    the  dark    mountains  the  lost   sheep    had 
strayed ; 
How  the  Good  Shepherd  followed,  and  how  kindly 

He  bore  it  home,  upon  His  shoulders  laid  ; 
And  healed  the  bleeding  wounds,  and  soothed  the 

pain, 
And  brought  back  life  and  hope  and  strength  again. 

Thou  knowest  all  the  present.     Each  temptation, 
Each  toilsome  duty,  each  foreboding  fear  ; 

All  to  myself  assigned  of  tribulation. 

Or  to  beloved  ones,  than  self  more  dear ; 

All  pensive  memories,  as  I  journey  on ; 

Longings  for  vanished  smiles  and  voices  gone. 

Thou  knowest  all  the  future.     Gleams  of  gladness, 
By  stormy  clouds  too  quickly  overcast ; 


110    THOUGHTS    FOR   AVEARY    HOURS. 

Hours  of  sweet  fellowship  and  parting  sadness, 

And  the  dark  river  to  be  crossed  at  last. 
Oh  !  what  could  hope  and  confidence  afiford, 
To  tread  that  path,  but  this :  Thou  knowest,  Lord ! 

Thou  knowest  not  alone  as  God,  all-knowing  ; 

As  man,  our  mortal  weakness  Thou  hast  proved ; 
On  earth  with  purest  sympathies  o'erflowing, 

0  Saviour !  Thou  hast  wept,  and  Thou  hast  loved  ; 
And  love  and  sorrow  still  to  Thee  may  come, 
And  fiud  a  hiding-place,  a  rest,  a  home. 

Therefore  I  come,  Thy  gentle  call  obeying, 
And  lay  my  sins  and  sorrows  at  Thy  feet. 

On  everlasting  strength  my  weakness  staying. 
Clothed  in  Thy  robe  of  righteousness  complete  ; 

Then  rising,  and  refreshed,  I  leave  Thy  throne, 

And  follow  on  to  know  as  I  am  known. 


Lxxm. 

"AS   MAWY   AS    I    LOVE    I   CHASTEN.' 

As  many  as  I  love  ! 
The  shadows  fall  upon  our  sunny  hours ; 

Darkness  and  sorrow  move 
Amid  our  treasures,  iu  our  joy-built  bowers  ; 


THOUGHTS   FOR   WEARY    HOURS.    Ill 

Yet  this  sweet  comfort  ever  may  be  ours — 
As  many  as  I  love  ! 

As  many  as  I  love  ! 
To  human  eyes  God's  dealings  oft  seem  dark  ; 

But  He  would  only  prove 
The  sunlight  where  the  cloud  alone  we  mark  ; 
lie  says — if  wounded  souls  would  only  hark — 

As  many  as  I  love  ! 

As  many  as  I  love  ! 
0  burdened,  sorrowing  heart !  this  is  for  thee  ; 

Thy  Father's  hand  above 
Is  meting  out  these  trials,  but  to  be 
The  measure  of  a  good  thou  canst  not  see  ; 

As  many  as  I  love ! 

As  many  as  I  love  ! 
Oh  !  earth's  affections  are  but  poor  to  this 

"Which  reaches  from  above  ! 
They — mortal  frailties — change,  and  fade,  and  miss, 
But  this  one  thought  gives  everlasting  bliss — 

As  many  as  I  love  ! 

As  many  as  I  love  ! 
These  loved  ones  are  the  bearers  of  the  cross  ; 

Their  Christian  faith  to  prove, 
All  earthly  gain  is  counted  but  as  loss, 
When  God  says — clearing  from  the  dross — 

As  many  as  I  love  ! 


112     THOUGHTS   FOR    WEARY   HOURS. 

As  many  as  I  lore  ! 
When  life,  work,  pain,  and  waiting  all  are  o'ei, 

•     Our  earth-tied  feet  shall  move 
Up  golden  streets  on  the  celestial  shore ; 
And  we  shall  sing  with  saints  for  evermore — 

As  many  as  I  love ! 

Lxxiy. 

BEST    AT    EVENING. 

When  the  weariness  of  life  is  ended, 
And  the  task  of  our  long  day  is  done, 

And  the  props  on  which  our  hearts  depended, 
All  have  failed  or  broken,  one  by  one  ; 

Evening  and  our  sorrow's  shadow  blended, 
Telling  us  that  peace  is  now  begun  : 

How  far  back  will  seem  the  sun's  first  daAvning, 
And  those  early  mists,  so  cold  and  gray  ! 

Half  forgotten  e'en  the  toil  of  morning, 
And  the  heat  and  burden  of  the  day : 

Flowers  that  we  were  tending,  and  weeds  scorning, 
All  alike  withered  and  east  away. 

Tain  will  seem  the  impatient  heart,  which  waited 
Toils  that  gathered  but  too  quickly  round  : 

And  the  childish  joy,  so  soon  dated 

At  the  path  we  thought  none  else  had  found  ; 


THOUGHTS    FOR    WEARY    HOURS.     113 

And  the  foolish  ardor,  soon  ab;ited 
Cy^the  storm  which  cast  us  to  the  f:jround. 

\";\in  those  pauses  on  the  road,  each  seeming; 

As  our  final  home  and  resting-place  ; 
And  the  leaving  them,  while  tears  were  streaming: 

Of  eternal  sorrow  down  our  face, 
And  the  hands  we  held,  fond  folly  dreaming 

That  no  future  could  their  touch  efface. 

x\ll  will  then  be  faded.     Night  will  borrow 
Stars  of  light  to  crown  our  perfect  rest ; 

And  the  dim,  vague  memory  of  faint  sorrow 
Just  remain  to  show  us  all  was  best; 

Then  melt  into  a  divine  to-morrow. 
Oh  !  how  poor  a  day  to  be  so  blest ! 


LXXV. 

A    PSALM    OF    LIFE. 

All  as  God  wills,  who  wisely  heeds 

To  give  or  to  withhold. 
And  knoweth  more  of  all  my  needs 

Than  all  my  prayers  have  told  ! 

Enough  that  blessings  undeserved 
Have  marked  mv  orrinjj  track. 


114     THOUGHTS    FOR    WEARY    HOUKS. 

That  wheresoe'er  my  feet  Viave  swerved 
Uis  chastening  turned  me  back. 

That  more  and  more  a  Providence 

Of  love  is  understood, 
Making  the  springs  of  time  and  sense 

Sweet  with  eternal  good. 

That  deatli  seems  but  a  covered  way 

Which  opens  into  light, 
Wherein  no  blinded  child  can  stray 

Beyond  the  Father's  sight. 

That  care  and  trial  seem  at  last, 
Through  memory's  sunset  air, 

Like  mountain  ranges  over-past, 
In  purple  distance  tair. 

That  all  the  jarring  notes  of  life 
Seem  blending  in  a  psalm, 

A.nd  all  the  angles  of  its  strife 
Slow  rounding  into  calm. 

"  And  so  the  shadows  fall  apart, 
And  so  the  west  winds  play; 
And  all  the  windows  of  my  heart 
T  open  to  the  day." 


THOUGHTS    FOR    WKARY    HOURS,      115 

LXXVI. 

"I    WILL    FEAR    NO    EVIL." 

Thy  way,  not  mine,  0  Lord  ! 

However  dark  it  be. 
Lead  me  by  Tliine  own  hand ;  * 

Choose  out  the  path  for  me. 

Smooth  let  it  be,  or  rough  ; 

It  will  be  still  the  best. 
Winding  or  straight,  it  matters  not ; 

It  leads  me  to  Thy  rest. 

I  dare  not  choose  my  lot ; 

I  would  not,  if  I  might. 
Choose  Thou  for  me,  my  God  ; 

So  shall  I  walk  aright. 

The  kingdom  that  I  seek 

Is  Thine  ;  so  let  the  way 
That  loads  to  it  he  Thine ; 

El.se  I  must  surely  stray. 

(/hoose  Thou  for  me  my  friends, 

My  sickness  or  my  health  ; 
Choose  Thou  my  cares  for  me, 

My  poverty  or  wealth. 


116      THOUGHTS    fOli    WEARY    HOURS 

Take  Thou  my  cup,  and  it 
With  joy  or  sorrow  till, 

As  best  to  Thee  may  seem. 
Choose  Thou  my  good  and  ill. 


LXXVII. 

THE    PEACE    OP    GOD. 

We  ask  for  peace,  0  Lord  ! 
Thy  children  ask  Thy  peace  ! 
Not  what  the  world  calls  rest — 
That  toil  and  care  should  cease  ; 
That  through  bright,  sunny  hours. 
Calm  life  should  fleet  away 
And  tranquil  night  shoidd  fade 
In  smiling  day. 
Tt  is  not  for  such  peace  that  we  would  pra^ 

We  ask  for  peace,  0  Lord ! 
Yet  not  to  stand  secure, 
Girt  round  with  iron  Pride, 
Contented  to  endure : 
Crushing  the  gentle  strings 
That  human  hearts  should  know, 
Untouclicd  by  others'  joys 
Oi-  others'  woe. 
Thou,  0  dear  Lord  !   wilt  nc\er  te^ich  us  so. 


THOUGHTS    FOR    WEARY    HOURS.     117 

We  ask  Thy  peace,  0  Lord  ! 
Til  rough  storm,  and  fear,  uud  strife, 
To  light  and  guide  us  on 
Through  a  long  struggling  life, 
While  no  success  or  gain 
Shall  cheer  the  desperate  fight, 
Or  nerve  what  the  world  calls 
Our  wasted  might ; 
Yet  pressing  through  the  darkness  to  the  light. 

It  is  Thine  own,  0  Lord ! 
Who  toil  while  others  sleep ; 
Who  sow  with  loving  care 
What  other  hands  shall  reap. 
They  lean  on  Thee  entranced, 
In  calm  and  perfect  rest. 
■    Give  us  that  peace,  0  Lord  ! 
Divine  and  blest, 
Thou  keepest  for  those  hearts  who  love  Thee  best. 


LXXVIII. 

RECONCILED. 

0  YEARS,  gone  down  into  the  past ! 

What  pleasant  memories  come  to  me. 
Of  your  untroubled  days  of  peace 

And  houra  of  almost  ecstasy  ! 


118     THOUGHTS    FOR    WEAIiY    HOUIIS. 

/'Yet  would  1  have  no  moon  stand  still, 
W  here  life's  most  pleasant  valleys  lie ; 
Nor  wheel  the  planet  of  the  day 

Back  on  his  pathway  through  the  sky. 

For  though,  when  youthful  pleasures  died, 
My  youth  itself  went  with  them  too  ; 

Tod ly,  ay,  even  this  very  hour, 
Is  the  best  hour  I  ever  knew. 

Not  that  my  Father  gives  to  me 

More  blessings  than  in  days  gone  by, 

Dropping  in  my  uplifted  hands 

All  things  for  which  I  blindly  cry  ; 

But  that  His  plans  and  purposes 

Have  grown  to  me  less  strange  and  dim  ; 

And,  where  I  can  not  understand, 
I  trust  the  issues  unto  Him. 

And,  spite  of  many  broken  dreams, 
This  have  I  truly  learned  to  say — 

Prayers,  which  I  thought  unanswei'cd  once. 
Were  answered  in  God's  own  bett  way. 

And,  though  some  hopes!  cherished  once, 
Perished  untimely  ere  their  birth, 

Yet  I  have  been  beloved  and  blest 
Bevond  the  measure  of  mv  worth. 


THOUGHTS  FOR  WEAKY  HOURS   119 

And  sometimes,  in  my  hours  of  grief, 
For  moments  I  have  come  to  stand 

Where,  in  the  sorrows  on  mc  hiid, 
I  felt  the  chastening  of  God's  hnnd. 

Then  learned  I  that  the  weakest  ones 
Are  kept  securest  from  life's  harms  ; 

And  that  the  tender  Iambs  alone 
Are  carried  in  the  Shepherd's  arms  ; 

And  sitting  by  the  way-side,  blind, 

He  is  the  nearest  to  the  light 
Who  crieth  out  most  earnestly, 
'•  Lord,  tliat  I  might  receive  my  sight !" 

O  feet !  grown  weary  as  ye  walk. 

Where  down  life's  hill  my  pathway  lies, 

What  care  I,  wliile  my  soul  can  mount 
As  the  young  eagle  mounts  the  skies  ! 

0  eyes  !  witli  weeping  faded  out, 

What  matters  it  how  dim  ye  be? 
My  inner  visions  sweep  untired 

The  reaches  of  eternity  ! 

0  death  !  most  dreaded  power  of  all  ! 

When  the  last  moment  comes,  and  thou 
Darken'st  the  windows  of  my  soul, 

TI)rough  which  I  look  on  nature  now 


1  20     THOUGHTS    FOR    WEARY    HOURS. 

Yea,  when  mortality  dissolves, 

Shall  I  not  meet  thine  hour  uiiawod  ? 
My  house  eternal  in  the  hoavcns 
'  Is  lighted  bv  the  smile  of  Go<l. 


A.    ^  ■  /^^^ 


Pnncelon   Theologicil  Semmflry-Speer  Library 


1    1012  01002  6948 


